Illegal encroachment is the biggest problem in Jharsugada and Brajrajnagar township area due to which there is perpetual jam and parking worry.
The shopkeepers and vendors have encroached upon most of the drains and footpaths of Brajrajnagar and Jharsugada main road leaving pedestrians walk on the 'unsafe' roads.
Even as the authorities have failed to act against the encroachers, the residents of the area too are to be blamed for the problem. The shopkeepers have encroached upon the footpath in the main markets with small vendors selling their product on the roads.
Meanwhile, heavy traffic on the stretch makes it unsafe for pedestrians to walk on the road.Venugopal Panigrahi, a Councillor, claimed that parking and illegal encroachment is a never ending problem in entire Jharsugada. Panigrahi said that this is due to the evr increasing vehicles. Rather than taking action against the violators, the municipality authority is seen as protecting the interest of the encroachers.
Otherwise how come no action has been taken against them up until now, asked Prashant Mohanty, a resident of BTM area.
Social activist Sanjay Panda said, “Afraid of losing their vote bank, local leaders have opposed the evacuation drive from time to time. They have no concern for the inconvenience of the common people.”
Jharsugada Municipality Executive Officer RC Pradhan said that they had started an eviction drive which had to be stopped due to a lot of political pressure.
While contacted, Superintendent of Police AK Mohanty said that he wasmonitoring the situation. “Very soon, illegal encroachments over the footpath and drainage would be evicted,” he assured.