Ready To Raze ‘Illegal’ Apartments But Lack Funds For Compensation: Bhubaneswar Mayor

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Bhubaneswar: City Mayor Sulochana Das on Wednesday said that the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) would raze unauthorised apartments under its jurisdiction if the Odisha government provides compensation for the same.

This came a day after Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra informed the Assembly about 689 apartments having been constructed illegally in the state capital alone. He further affirmed that legal proceedings were initiated against 719 apartments across the state, including 689 in Bhubaneswar, for contravening various regulations.

Speaking to mediapersons, Das said necessary steps will taken once the BMC receives a formal directive from the government. “These constructions were initially under the panchayat. Numerous waterbodies have been encroached upon, leading to drainage problem in the areas,” she said.

The Mayor further stated that it had no problem in executing government’s decision regarding such unauthorised structures. “We also want to rid government lands of illegal structures. However, compensation has to be paid if an apartment is demolished and BMC does not have adequate funds for it,” she added.