Buildings constructed illegally on river valley in Uttarakhand collapsed like a pack of cards. Here, we have a lot of illegal construction on the Kuakhai riverbed. Are we headed for a similar situation?

Building regulations and a comprehensive development plan need to be implemented effectively. Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has worked out an elaborate plan to launch a demolition drive against unauthorised constructions on the riverbed and natural drains.

Has the demolition drive been affected due to lack of coordination among various departments?

I wouldn’t call it lack of coordination. Representatives attend fortnightly meetings of the city management group where issues are raised and decisions are taken. But the problem lies in effectiveness and taking up a time-bound drive.

You have issued notices to people who had produced false affidavits to avail more than one house or plot under the government’s discretionary quota. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India also said the quota was misutilised to favour influential persons. Do you agree?

I agree something illegal has been done. At one point of time, there was a quota, which said what sort of people would be eligible, but maybe it was not supported by adequate systems. Over a period of time, a lot of people applied and got houses or plots. Now, in one stroke, you cannot dismiss it as illegal or unholy. But those who took plots or houses by submitting false affidavits are in the wrong and have been issued notices.

How do you plan to check the haphazard construction activities in Bhubaneswar?

We are following it up with a legal amendment to the Odisha Development Authorities Act, 1982. It says unless the development authority or urban local body gives completion certificate, electricity and water connection will not be given.

Odisha government has been allotted nearly Rs 800 crore under the city-modernisation programme, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), but the work has been progressing at a snail’s pace. Why?

We were over ambitious. We adopted a convergence model by including JNNURM funding as well as that of the 13th Finance Commission and Japan International Cooperation Agency. But we did not have the experience or engineering capability to handle such a huge project. Second, we assumed land acquisition would be easy but it turned out to be a major obstacle.

Citizen’s person

A 1983 batch IAS officer, Injeti Srinivas is the commissioner-cum-secretary of the state housing and urban development department. He is popular for his innovative and citizen-centric approach

Born into a Telugu family, Srinivas, 43, grew up in Delhi. After completing bachelor’s degree in economics from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi, he took up a job with a private national company for a brief period. He then made up his mind to prepare for the civil services and got through in his second attempt in 1982

His first posting was that of a sub-divisional officer in Titlagarh. He has served as the sub-collector of Bargarh, collector of Mayurbhanj, industries director and secretary as well as the resident commissioner of Odisha in Delhi. He has also held key positions in various Union ministries, including sports and youth affairs

What would you have been had you not been IAS OFFICER?

An advocate. As a child, if I wanted something, I would not resort to tantrums but argue my case well. So, my family, friends and colleagues used to tell me that I would have made a very good advocate. But then my father was an IAS officer and always wanted me to follow in his footsteps.