Balangir: The municipality begun an eviction drive on Tuesday to free Maharaj Sagar, the second largest water body in Titilagarh, from illegal encroachments.

The civic body started the drive from the Nilachakranagar and bulldozed the Nilachakra Yubak Sangh Club office and the Gopabandhu club building near the bus terminal, which were illegally constructed on the land of the tank. Municipal officials said the civic body would clear up all illegal constructions in and around the tank. The tank that once catered the need of half the population of the town now lies in neglect .

A source said municipality had recently taken up renovation works of two major water bodies of Titilagarh - De Bandh and Maharaj Sagar. Water of these two tanks have become highly-contaminated with aplenty aquatic plants.

People have been complaining against the apathetic attitude of the authority, but no steps were taken.

A municipality official said revival of the De Bandh was relatively easy as the tank needed to be cleaned only. However, in the case of Maharaj Sagar, the process may take more time due to large-scale illegal constructions on the land of the water body which need to be vacated.

Executive officer of Titilagarh municipality Santosh Kumar Behera said people who had encroached the land of Maharaj Sagar have been given land in the Titi Dunguri area of the town.

"All those who will lose their land due to eviction drive will be rehabilitated in Titi Gunguri," Behera said.