Keonjhar, April 22: The district administration today started a demolition drive on a five-acre plot encroached upon by Champua's Independent MLA Sanatan Mahakud at Uchabali mouza in Barbil tehsil.
The demolition was conducted today on the basis of an order of the Orissa High Court. According to the court order, Mahakud has encroached upon the land since 1980.
He has built house, office and other structures on the encroached land. As the illegal possession of the government land by the Champua legislator came to the fore, the revenue department began investigation into it.
Though some 25 platoons of police force were deployed apprehending resistance from the MLA's supporters, no untoward incident took place. Mahakud had kept the land under his possession since 1980.
The demolition drive started in the presence of district administration officials, including the district collector and the police superintendent with Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code clamped within 500 metres of the site.
However, Mahakud's house, office and a temple, which is spread over one acre and 20 decimals on a separate plot, will not be evicted because of a stay order issued by Orissa High Court, sources said.
The raze drive will continue even tomorrow.
"Some temporary sheds were built on the patch for cattle and livestock. Some construction workers were also staying there. They will be evicted and the constructions razed," additional district magistrate Sangram Keshari Swain had told newspersons yesterday.
Mahakud was also present during the demolition drive. However, he denied owning the land. "I have come here to visit the place as the local MLA. I have not constructed any structure. People had approached the court, and it ordered for eviction. I have nothing to say if the government chooses to demolish the construction," Mahakud said.
"We have deployed 25 platoons of police. Eight magistrates are also camping at the site. The eviction drive is going on without any hindrance," said Keonjhar additional superintendent of police Dipti Ranjan Roy.
Mahakud, who had earlier contested the 2009 elections on a Congress ticket, quit the party and fought the 2014 general elections on an Independent ticket. He hogged the limelight when he declared assets worth Rs 69 crore in his affidavit for the 2014 general elections, making him the second richest person to contest the Assembly polls.
