Tension In Odisha’s Khurda As 40 Illegal Structures Razed During Eviction Drive

Khurda: Tension prevailed in Odisha’s Khurda town on Sunday as the civic authorities resumed anti-encroachment and eviction drive to clear unauthorised structures and establishments at Marwari Patti locality.

Sources said more than 40 unauthorised shops and business establishments were removed with six platoons of forces deployed at the site to avoid any law and order situation.

Local vendors, however, continued to oppose the drive with some of them attempting self-immolation. They were later detained by the police.

Officials at the site stated the anti-encroachment drive was take up after traffic congestion was reported in the locality due to mushrooming of unauthorised shops. The encroachments also hampered the district administration’s plans to beautify the town.

On December 10, the drive to rid the town of unauthorized roadside cabins and temporary stalls had to be halted amid fierce protests by local vendors. Even social outfits and opposition political parties came out in support of the shop owners.

Following the resistance, a high-level committee of the district administration held discussions with various vendor associations. The vendors were given five days to voluntarily take out their belongings and dismantle the structures on their own. Eviction notices were served to 166 vendors, officials added.