(Top) Eviction drive in Dhenknal and (below) shop owners stage a dharna. Telegraph pictures

Dhenkanal, June, 26: Tension gripped the district headquarters town here following the launch of an eviction drive last evening to remove illegal shops from the roadside.

Some people protesting the drive pelted stones at the police and administrative officials at Baji Chowk last evening. The incident occurred with district collector Girish S.N. and SP Satish Kumar Gajaviye present on the spot.

Affected owners of the makeshift shops that were demolished complained that no alternative arrangement had been made for them to sustain their families.

“There was no prior notice to demolish or shift our shops. At 1pm, they announced that we should clear the encroachments by 3pm. This is unjustified and irrational as we have been running our shops here for years to maintain our families,” said P. Mishra, an affected shop owner.

Keeping the rath yatra in view, the local administration has launched the eviction drive to clear encroachments on the drains on both sides of the main roads along a 10km stretch.

The drive would continue till all the roads were cleared of encroachments by small traders and businessmen, said an official source.

Taking a strong exception to the demolition drive by the administration, Bishnu Maharana, president of Cabin Owners’ Association, said: “District collectors had assured us that unless there is an alternative arrangement for us, there will not be any eviction. But they did not keep their promise.”

Talking to The Telegraph, Dhenkanal collector Girish S.N. said: “We are clearing encroachments on the drains of the roads only to make the road wide and clean due heavy traffic congestions. We are not doing anything beyond the drains. As regards to rehabilitation, we are constructing vending zones in the town to accommodate about 25 shop owners who have been evicted in the drive and others will be provided shops in due course.”

“Unlike earlier occasions, the evictions are peaceful barring some stray incidents. Some old municipal shops are also being demolished,” he added.