Bhadrak: With the Bhadrak municipality remaining a mute spectator, land encroachers are having a field day here.
Around 40 per cent of government lands, rivers, rivulets, drains and pasturelands have been grabbed. This is leading to man-made floods even after a slight drizzle.
Former administration officials built the Nayanjori and sewerage systems on either side of roads so that rainwater can flow out naturally. But, these are now blocked by encroachments.
The administration is well aware that encroachers are grabbing the Nayanjori on either side of the Bhadrak-Chandbali bypass, but it is not taking action against them.
The condition of the road from Nehru Stadium, the town’s entry point, to Mahatab Square, the exit point, is no different. The entire stretch is being encroached upon.
Similarly, spaces near the Bhadrak RMC boundary wall, the area in front of the district agriculture office and the roadside in front of Unani have already been grabbed by encroachers.
Now houses are being constructed on the Nayanjori in front of Unani. Some of the buildings being built are commercial ones.
Municipal officials are using this road every day, and it is baffling how they are not noticing the illegal buildings.
The construction of a double storey building on the Nayanjori by the side of the BJD office near the new bus stand has already been completed.
In another case, the direction of a drain was changed by a three storey building. This is a classic example of how encroachments are going on.
Many roads are also getting encroached upon. Petty traders have established their businesses on the main road in front of the PWD office. The Katcheri Bazaar vegetable market is on the road itself.
If one compares the present condition of the road leading to the municipal office with what it used to be, the seriousness of the encroachment problem can be easily understood. The road from municipal office to Court Square is just 300 metres, but it takes around 30 minutes to go from one end to the other.
People say that those in charge of the civic authority are ignoring the illegalities as they think that it may affect their vote banks. The authority limits its action to just serving notices.
While money meant for development projects is being returned due to land shortage, people with clout have grabbed acres of government land. One such example is the community toilet for which the civic body is not finding space inside the town.
Municipality’s executive officer Pradeep Kumar Sahoo said that notices have been issued to all encroachers.
PNN