Boinda: Several government offices and sheds were demolished along the road from Jambunali to Bhangamunda of NH-55 (Cuttack-Sambalpur) in Kishorenagar block in Angul district to make room for four-laning of the NH.
Although, three years have passed, no new office buildings have been constructed in place of the razed ones, causing a lot of trouble to the people.
It is said that the administration is not getting suitable sites for constructing the office buildings.
The administration started the eviction drive for the four-laning of the national highway May 17, 2018. Since the affected persons were not fully compensated, they had objected to the eviction drive. The administration, however, imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 and completed the drive.
The RI office building, veterinary hospital, a bungalow of the works department, Kishoreganj Primary School, Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra in Nunukapashi panchayat, Boinda outpost, Boinda Janata College, a passenger rest shed at Boinda Square and a rest shed at Boinda College in Boinda area were pulled down.
The other buildings and structures that bit the dust included rest sheds at Luhamunda and Deberapali villages, the barrack of Handapa police station, a rest shed at Baisina village, classrooms of Baisina Project Primary School, the boundary wall of Pagabandha Primary School, rest sheds at Nakichi Phulamba, Sarigipali, Ambapal and Bamur villages, the office building of junior engineer of Minor Irrigation department at Bamur and a rest shed at Jambunali.
As of now, some offices are running from rented accommodations while others are functioning from other office premises.
People of four panchayats depended on the veterinary hospital in Boinda. In the absence of the hospital, these people are experiencing a lot of trouble. With no options left, they are forced to depend on Handapa veterinary hospital, which is seven kilometres away.
Similarly, despite the fact that Rs2 crore has been sanctioned for the dak bunglow of the works department and a piece of land has been identified for the same, work on it is yet to start In the absence of this dak bunglow, the VIPs and political leaders who depended on it are facing difficulties, affecting the developmental activities in Boinda.
Mentioning that a patch of land behind the place where the old Boinda outpost stood as the suitable place for the new building for the outpost, Boinda residents had written (Letter No. 15/01/2021) to the Athmallik MLA. But they are yet to get any response.
According to sources, the administration is not getting a suitable piece of land for new office buildings, as many influential persons have encroached upon government land and constructed their houses on them.
The contractor firm engaged in the construction of the rest shed and school buildings is working on two school buildings, but work is progressing at a snail’s pace.
Similarly, the inordinate delay in the flyover construction at Boinda and Bamur has triggered dissatisfaction among people. They alleged that the flyover construction work had not progressed beyond some pillar holes in Boinda. Drain work has also been left mid-way through, resulting in rainwater entering the houses in the locality after a slight drizzle. Only 30 per cent of the bridge work at Bamur has been completed. Moreover, the affected businessmen are yet to be rehabilitated.
People in Boinda have urged the administration to intervene and ensure construction of new office buildings at the earliest.
