The Pioneer 28.04.2013
25 houses demolished at Hijra Basti in city
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday launched a demolition drive at the Hijra Basti beside the National Highway between Rasulgarh and Vani Vihar in the city. Around 25 houses were demolished, officials said.
A month ago, the BMC had issued an eviction notice to vacate the ‘illegal’ settlement to facilitate expansion of the National Highway. After getting the notice, 120 eunuchs of the Vihar Hijra Basti had threatened self-immolation if the BMC fails to rehabilitate them before demolition of their houses.
The eunuchs said they have been staying on the NH side for the past 12 years. “If the BMC demolishes our houses, we should be given new houses to stay,” said All Odisha Hijra Association secretary Meera.
Notably, the BMC has decided to rehabilitate the eunuchs at Niladri Vihar in Chandrasekharpur, but the eunuchs suspect whether it can accommodate all the 120 persons.
