Concerned over mushrooming of unauthorised high-rise buildings in Bhubaneswar which is vulnerable to earthquake, a city-based public spirited person has approached the Odisha High Court in a PIl seeking demolition of the illegal skyscrapers that are sure to cause concrete avalanche in the event of tremor. In order to decide the question of admission of the PIl, a Division Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Pradeep K Mohanty has issued notices to the State Government recently. Impleading the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) as an opposite party to the PIl that had earlier arraigned the Urban Development Secretary and the Bhubanswar Development Authority (BDA), the HC issued notices to all the respondents asking them to file their counters within four weeks.
Subash Mohaptra in his petition has pointed out that BDA has given permission for construction of over 1000 high-rise buildings in the Capital City and its vicinity without proper verification and inspection of the localities. “Hastily-built buildings have come up in violation of rules and regulations governing them,” the petition said, adding that despite orders to demolish the unauthorised structures, the authorities are non-committal.
Quoting reports, the petition said at least 423 apartments and high-rise buildings have been identified that have violated the provisions of Odisha Development Authorities Act of 1982. Relying mainly on a CAG report, the petition has pointed out that there is a lack of coordination between the enforcement and planning division of the BDA resulting inadequate action on the referred cases and non-execution of demolition cases.
Seeking stringent criminal and departmental action against the officers guilty and negligent in their duties in demolishing the unauthorised constructions in Bhubaneswar, the petitioner has also prayed for judicial intervention to take urgent steps for speedy disposal of pending litigations pertaining to unauthorised constructions and occupancy of high-rise buildings in Bhubaneswar.