Illegal construction in lake zone area near Janpath in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, May 28: The proposed plan to build a ‘great lake zone’ along channel No. 10 to beautify the city and provide modern recreational facilities has run into land hurdle.

The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and the general administration has not been able to take the dream project forward as they have failed acquire 26 acres of land from people residing there.

What’s worse is that many of the residents living there have taken compensation from the BDA and the general administration (GA), but they are said to have been selling off their land thus creating problem for the authorities.

“We called a meeting of different wings in our office today. We came to know that some residents who have received compensation against their land are selling off those plots. It will create problem for us in the future. We are going to hold a meeting of other government departments in the next few days,” said BDA vice-chairman Krishan Kumar.

Sources said that the officials of the general administration, slum development officer of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and city tehsildar would be called for the meeting.

Of the total land required for the project, some belongs to the government while the rest is in private hands. However, several slums have come up on this land making it difficult for the authorities to remove these illegal encroachments.

Sources said that when the compensation amount was paid during 2011 and 2012, the authorities should have taken the land into their possession, but they left it with the residents who are now trying to sell off the land.

“We will survey the land and check the encroachments. Besides we will see how much land has been sold by the illegal residents,’ said a senior official.

Though the BDA officials have been claiming that the existing encroachment create problem for acquiring land, it has been observed that new slums have been coming up along the drainage channel everyday.

“During our survey along with other agencies it will be seen how many of these slums are genuine and existing there since a long time and how many have come up recently. Accordingly we will deal with these people and acquire land from them,” said a BDA official.

The development authority had planned to develop three lakes on the bank of drainage channel No. 10 after its renovation. The project plans to equip the great lake zone with all modern recreation and outing facilities.

Three stretches along the lake are between Railway line and Janpath in Satyanagar area, between Janpath and Sachivalaya Marg in Unit –IX area and between Sachivalaya Marg and Vidyut Marg in the existing BDA city centre.

The waterfronts will be beautified with landscaping, designer lights and musical fountains. For recreational activities there would be facilities for boating, shopping and jogging. Besides, there would be provisions for shopping malls and market complexes and food courts nearby.

A BDA official said that though no deadline has been set for the project to begin, the next meeting would be very crucial.