Bulldozer Action In Odisha! Illegal Construction On Govt Land By Influential People To Be Demolished, Says Minister

Bhubaneswar: Odisha may soon witness ‘bulldozer action’ as adopted in states like Uttar Pradesh with the government on Wednesday warning that illegal constructions made on government land in will be demolished.

Speaking on the state government’s plan to crackdown on unauthorised structures on public land, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari told reporters that huts and similar structures made by poor people on small pieces of encroached land were being pulled down, while rich and influential elements were left untouched in the state in the past.

However, the state government has now made up its mind to take action against rich and other influential people in the state, he warned.

Stating that the government has got many records, the Minister said that in the last several years structures of poor people built on 2 to 4 decimal of land were demolished.

There are many powerful and influential people as well as officials who have encroached upon government land at several places, Pujari said, adding that these people have constructed expensive high-rise buildings.

Bulldozers will be used to demolish such illegal structures very soon, he said.

Notably, the state government has already directed the district Collectors to take immediate steps for removal of illegal encroachment from government lands, both in urban and rural areas in the state.