Thirty five poor families living at Bijipara in Sundargarh for over last 60 years who were living in fear and uncertainty as the district administration had served them an eviction notice, are now in joyous mood and have heaved a sigh of relief.
The Sundargarh Collector understood the agony of the poor families and decided not to evict them.
Sources said, the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) seeks to establish a medical college in Sundargarh. The district administration had identified land at Sitabhanga where district veterinary had set up a hatchery and rearing unit and layer farm.
As per the order of the administration , the Veterinary department had vacated the area and accordingly last year, the administration had handed over 21 acres land to the NTPC for setting up the college.
About seven months ago, the Veterinary department had written to district administration at Sundargarh for giving them 40 acres of land for setting up its
hatchery, rearing and layer farm.
Sundargarh Sub Collector had written to the Tehsildar, Sundargarh to identify the land and the latter identified 24 acre of land at Bijapada encroached by the 35 families for last 60 years.
Sundargarh Sub Collector had issued eviction order on the 35 families and asked them to vacate the area within 15 days, else there would be forceful eviction.
After getting the eviction order, the families had become worried. They had met local Councilor and had been protesting the eviction order since then. The families had also met Tehsildar Anjalina Pradhan and Sub Collector Birasen Pradhan and had requested them not to evict them from their living place.
Recently, the residents of Bijapada met Sundargarh Collector Bhupinder Singh Punia and requested him not to evict them from the place on which they have been living for last 60 years.
According to sources, the Sundargarh Collector heard their plight and ordered Sub Collector Birasen Pradhan to visit Bijapada. Thereafter it was decided that 35 families won’t be evicted.