Resuming its demolition drive to renovate and expand the SCB Medical College Hospital here, the district administration on Wednesday pulled down at least nine temples and six clubhouses built illegally on Government land adjacent to the roads on either side of the Taladanda Canal.
The authorities have also identified to pull down another temple and a clubhouse on these two roads leading from the Ranihat bridge to the hospital, said Cuttack Municipal Commissioner (CMC) Deputy Commissioner of AC Rout.
Wednesday’s eviction was the third phase of the drive and the authorities were very conscious and concerned as it involved razing of the places of worship. Amid touching scenes of locals crying and fainting, the temple demolition drive went off peacefully without any untoward incident.
But tension built up in the hospital campus as employees resented a one-month notice given to them to vacate their residential houses. Hundreds of Class-III and Class-IV employees with their families protested in front of the office of the hospital superintendent demanding recall of the notice.
The hospital expansion plan also involves demolition of around 500 residential quarters and about 90 shops located in the campus and adjacent areas. The employees demand that alternative arrangements be made ready before they are asked to vacate their quarters.
The State’s premier hospital is set for a massive expansion by acquiring another 25 acres of adjacent land. The district authorities expect to complete the eviction drive by the end of this month so that the expansion work can begin from the beginning of March.