The Baleswar Municipality authorities on Wednesday took up a heavily-guarded eviction drive to free most of the areas in the headquarters town of encroachments following orders from the Odisha High Court.
All most all illegally-constructed structures, mainly shops, on both sides of the road from the Station Square to the Pani Tanki Square ware razed to make way for construction of drains before the upcoming rainy season. The operation took place with heavy police bandobast and in the presence of a magistrate.
However, shopkeepers expressed resentments over the eviction drive. “We were not informed prior to the demolition drive. It was very difficult for us to take our belongings from our establishments,” said some shopkeepers.
Some shopkeepers too had opposed the eviction drive demanding their rehabilitation before eviction. The administration has made it clear that the town would be made free of all encroachments in the coming days.
“Construction of drains is underway. If it is not done, this area will be submerged during the rainy season. Since Works Department has started drain construction works, we have launched the eviction drive. Some people might be opposing it but all denizens will benefit when the road is widened and a systematic drain comes up,” said Baleswar Municipality CEO Subash Chandra Jena.