Eviction Drive For SCB Expansion In Cuttack Resumes

Cuttack: The eviction drive for expansion of SCB Medical College and Hospital began around 8:30 am on Friday at Chunabhati Chhak here in the presence of administration officials and police.

A senior Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) official said that the drive, which was suspended amid coronavirus-induced lockdown, resumed with the demolition of 98 houses on both sides of the road on Jobra barrage.

The residents were earlier asked to vacate the area and also given Rs 50,000 as per the rehabilitation policy. They will be allotted plots by Monday, the official added.

The authorities have also decided to allot places to the affected street vendors in CMC vending zone on a priority basis and bear their transport expenses.

The first phase of the eviction drive had begun in Jobra and fish market and meat market on the bank of Taladanda canal.

As many as 10 temples and four clubhouses were demolished in the second phase eviction drive at Jobra and Ranihat locality in February.

The eviction followed the Chief Minister’s announcement to invest more than Rs 1000 crore to convert SCB into a state-of-the-art hospital with 3000 beds in November last year. As part of the plan, the administration had approved a rehabilitation package for the people, business establishments and other organizations to be evicted for the expansion work.

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