An illegal construction being razed during the anti-encroachment drive. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, June 14: A number of structures were demolished in a major anti-encroachment drive in the Silk City to clear a stretch of road that passes through Luchapada to Gate Bazar. The demolition of unauthorised constructions in the 1.5km stretch from Luchapada Hanuman Balaji temple to Gate Bazar started a few days ago.

No untoward incidents were reported during the process although there were verbal protests from some local residents. Most city-dwellers welcomed this anti-encroachment drive this stretch had become a troublesome zone for traffic. Efforts were also on to streamline traffic at Gate Bazar Square, said sources at the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Prabhakar Sahu, a retired district agriculture officer, had constructed a two-storied house on the road between Luchapada to Gate Bazar Road. He said that the authorities had not issued any prior notice to him. But he agreed that he had encroached on eight feet of land. “However, I requested the SDO of PWD not to use bulldozers and I demolished the encroached portion by engaging labourers on my own,” Prabhakar said. He had constructed the house 17 years ago. This was the first time that the BMC had undertaken the anti-encroachment drive, he said.

The demolition drive started a day after the Ganjam collector drove on this stretch of road. Local residents had complained of traffic congestion and lack of drains, said Prabhakar.

Narsu Sahu, who runs a tailoring shop on the Luchapada to Gate Bazar Road said that the authorities marked a line 12 hours prior to the demolition. Nobody was served prior notice, Sahu said.

Subash Chandra Maharana, an advocate who also resides by this stretch of road said that natural justice must be maintained during a major anti-encorachment drive. “Demolition of encroachment is lawful. If the authority wants to develop the road it must serve appropriate notice to the house-owners under the Orissa Prevention of Land Encroachment Act (OPLE),” he said.