Bhubaneswar: As the ongoing demolition and eviction process by the authorities in Bhubaneswar’s Salia Sahi entered the third day on Thursday, local slum dwellers strongly opposed the special drive calling it illegal and gross violation of human rights.
As per information, many residents of Salia Sahi, the largest slum in the capital city, have resisted relocation, arguing that the transit houses offered by the Bhubaneswar Municipal corporation (BMC) are too small to accommodate families.
Terming the demolition derive as illegal and arbitrary, a local leader alleged that the authorities violating the provisions of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, and other legal provisions by dislodging the slum dwellers.
Claiming that the drive amounted to gross violation of human rights, he said several affected households spent nights in makeshift shelters at an open ground. Besides providing adequate compensation, the government must allocate land to the affected families instead of temporary accommodation.
Meanwhile, enforcement squads of BMC, Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and works department continued the demolition drive for the third day. The total number of houses demolished in last two days stood at 283. Officials said altogether 517 houses have been marked for demolition in the current phase.
A senior official said that the ongoing operation is expected to be completed on Friday with five teams engaged in the drive. The evicted families are being shifted with their belongings soon after demolition. Residents are being informed in advance as to which houses would be demolished so that they can take out their belongings.
As the structures are being demolished, the authorities face challenges in clearing the huge volume of rubble comprising bricks and concrete. On the other hand, many evictees have taken asbestos sheets, doors, windows, and other essentials with them. Once the exercise is over, shifting of debris will start, said an official.
As a temporary measure, the civic body has put up temporary sheds at the site for evictees, who are being shifted in a phased manner to the relocation colony at Buddha Vihar.
The demolition and eviction drive is aimed to retrieve 800-900 metres of land meant for the proposed 13-km long left parallel road between Ekamra Kanan and Andharua.
