The Nuapada district administration undertook an eviction drive in Khariar on Wednesday.
Many roadside shops and houses built on Government land were dismantled in the presence Khariar Tehsildar Gopalswami Naidu, SDPO Santanu Kumar Dash, Khariar NAC Executive Officer laxmandas Thakur and officials of the Public Works department.
Earlier, the encroachers were given notices to vacate encroached lands voluntarily but there was no response. All the shops and houses constructed on the encroached lands were demolished with the help of JCP machines.
Some concerned citizens of the town under the banner of Khariar Nagarik Manch had been demanding action against the encroachers for the last three years.
“Our next step will be to remove encroachment of the High School ground and all other Government land inside the town” said district Collector Jaykumar V.
Sources said more than 6 acres of land, which belong to the Raja AT High School, Khariar, has been encroached by different people for the last 22 years. The Collector has set a plan to evict the land and handover the same to the school soon. The Collector has also instructed the Revenue officials of Sinapali block to initiate eviction in Sinapali town.