BDA Clears Encroachments on Government Land in Kalarahanga Amid Protests

Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) on Tuesday launched a major eviction drive on encroached government land under Plot No. 1683 in Kalarahanga mouza as part of its ongoing CEMC anti-encroachment programme.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of BDA Joint Commissioner (Enforcement) Ranjan Kumar, with field monitoring by Deputy Director of the General Administration (GA) Department Amiya Kumar Das. Multiple enforcement teams and police personnel were deployed during the drive to maintain law and order.

Despite strong resistance and protests from encroachers at the site, officials continued the operation and carried out partial eviction successfully, clearing a sizeable portion of the illegally occupied land.

During the demolition drive, authorities razed three under-construction houses, six ACC sheet structures, a chicken shop, a roadside cabin, a kabadi store, four toilets and a water tank allegedly built on government land. Around 150 feet of iron fencing put up over the encroached area was also dismantled.

Officials said nearly Ac 0.300 dec of valuable government land was reclaimed during the operation. The eviction drive is expected to continue on Wednesday as part of the broader anti-encroachment initiative in the capital city.

The operation involved BDA Enforcement Squads 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8, along with officials from the GA Department, Junior Enforcement Officers, Revenue Inspectors, Infocity Police and additional police forces.

BDA Vice-Chairman Chanchal Rana said the authority will continue similar drives across Bhubaneswar to protect government land from illegal occupation and facilitate planned urban development projects. He also appealed to encroachers to vacate government land voluntarily to avoid enforcement action.