Balasore, July 3: Construction of a marine police station at Udaipur under Bhograi block of this bordering district is yet to begin because of opposition from Bengal.

Attempt to start work failed on Wednesday as officials of Bengal’s East Midnapore district alleged violation of their territory.

The Bengal team, which included the block development officer, inspector in-charge of Ramnagar police station and revenue officials, asked Balasore officials to stop work as part of the land earmarked for the project fell in their territory. The work was stopped immediately.

The tehsildar Bhograi, Harihar Jena said: “The construction was being undertaken on the land belonging to us. We have a map but Bengal officials are staking claim of a part of the land according to a map prepared in 1932.”

Inspector in-charge of Bhograi police station Dayanidhi Das said: “We have records to show that the patch of land is ours. The Bengal officers are showing a map of 1932, but in the 60s another map was drawn which should be made the point of reference.”

The patch of land for the establishment of a marine police station in Udaipur was identified after joint verification of revenue and police departments. The police station, which is supposed to come up on a plot of land measuring around one acre will have sheds for the power boats, barracks for accommodating about 100 personnel and a watch tower. Funds for construction of this special police station have already been sanctioned. Sub-divisional police officer, Jaleswar, Satyaranjan Mallick said: “The issue should be taken up at the level of district collectors.”

Additional district magistrate, Balasore, Akshay Mohanty said: “There is no question of any infringement from our side. We are within our territory as far as construction of the police station building is concerned.

Balasore collector Arabind Agarwal said he had a talk with his Bengal counterpart and the work would resume soon. Local MLA and government chief whip Anant Das said: “The government has been apprised of the issue and the work would go on.”

East Midnapore district magistrate Antara Acharya said trees had been felled near Udaipur village in Bengal for the construction of a coastal police station by the Odisha government.

“After the district forest officer gave this information, I spoke to the Balasore collector and told him that part of the land on which they are constructing the police station comes under Bengal’s jurisdiction. The Balasore DM and I are meeting on Wednesday along with police and land records officials to clear the misunderstandings,” she said.