Bhubaneswar, Jan. 19: The development authority is evicting encroachers from various parts of the city, freeing, among others, footpaths and cycle tracks.

The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) along with police, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the general administration department yesterday carried out a raze drive at Sampur and demolished a building constructed over 2,000 square feet of government land.

According to sources, one Pathania Behera had illegally constructed a structure on around 5,000 square feet of government land. He had also obstructed officials from razing the building earlier.

"The general administration department had issued the order of demolition. We had taken three excavators and demolished the structure at Sampur near Sum Hospital. The occupant had encroached upon the land for a long time. We have succeeded in freeing a big plot of valuable government land," said the Bhubaneswar Development Authority's liaison officer Subhransu Mohanty.

Sources said there were a number of such government lands in and around the city, which have remained illegally occupied for a long time.

"The general administration department has started identifying such lands with the help of other government agencies. The newly formed enforcement squad will help free the lands shortly," said an official of the general administration department.

"The administration is doing a good job. However, while evicting street vendors, they should also ensure their rehabilitationsince they are poor people and are here to earn their livelihood," said Satya Nagar resident Mamata Patra, a shopper here.

Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said the civic body was making efforts to introduce more vending zones in the city to rehabilitate street vendors.

"We are here to help them provide vends where they can do their business with ease. There is no need to encroach on the footpaths. They can apply for the vends anytime," said Jena.