People of Angul strongly resented on the massive encroachment of Government land and other common property, adjacent to various ponds of Madanmohanpada of Angul Municipality by the Fishery Department.
The department is doing various construction work by violating the Revenue Master Plan approved by the RDC in 1993, alleged Niranjan Dash.
In the Angul Master Plan, around 62 acres of land was earmarked in name of the Fishery Department. The department failed to do any development work in the land over a long span of time. In the meantime, the Angul Municipality constructed a club and nursery in plot No 1509 and 1514 respectively. The municipality also planted coconut trees in the pond embankment and made beautification.
The municipality and ‘Talcher - Angul - Meramunduli Improvement Trust (TAMDA) also constructed community latrines at the pond sites. A pucca road also was constructed and maintained by the PWD at the side of Narayanasagar pond, connecting to Kamala farm road. The TAMDA spent a lot of money for the beautification of Narayanasagar.
A German architect, who had prepared the original Master Plan of the Angul town, never earmarked the present 31 ponds for fish farming and allied activities. Subsequently, the ponds were given to Fisheries Department only for maintenance. But strangely and illegally, the department has encroached valuable revenue land of the pond and its adjacent areas. The department has constructed a boundary wall , encroaching the Bazarpada School Road in plot no. 1474. It also constructed a wall, encroaching upon a Government land between TAMDA Kalyan Mandap and Rotary Public School. It also constructed a wall in Government Plot No 1013.
Violating the Revenue Master Plan, the Fishery Department has encroached valuable Government land used for public purpose and is constructing structures for an aquarium, carp hatchery and brood stock pond.
Meanwhile, local people in a memorandum to the Government have demanded stern action on it. The revenue officials are probing the matter, said sources.