The New Indian Express 07.01.2010

Massive encroachment, hurdle in development

SAMBALPUR: Massive encroachments in Sambalpur, Burla and Hirakud are a major roadblock to development. Yet neither the State Government nor the district administration seems interested in evicting the encroachers to ensure better use of the land. The vote bank politics ensures that the encroachers get patronage from political parties and leaders. In the past, announcements by Sambalpur Municipality to clear encroachments were called off after the encroachers took out rallies and managed to garner political support against the move. In the towns of Sambalpur, Hirakud and Burla, a mere 5,225 persons are in possession of 803 acres of government land. The highest number of encroachers is in Burla town where 1,564 people have encroached on 361.937 acres of land while in Sambalpur 2,057 persons have encroached on 188.342 acres of land whereas in Hirakud 1,604 persons have 253.035 acres of government land in their possession. The massive encroachments have narrowed down the thoroughfares. While these are the official figures, the actual figures are astronomical, revealed an official in the Revenue Department. Many among the encroachers have applied for regularisation of their land which is awaiting approval. Though encroachment cases are filed, very often encroachers end up settling the land in their favour after payment of some consideration. The very fact that Sambalpur has no playground left for public use speaks volumes about the problem. Even water bodies are not spared. Contacted, Sambalpur Sub-Collector Bibhuti Bhusan Behera said the administration was aware of the encroachment problem and the Revenue Department would undertake a special drive to evict encroachers in Burla, while Sambalpur Municipality has been asked to evict encroachers from municipal.

Indian Express 31.12.2009

MC clears encroachments, traders cry foul

Accuse corporation of adopting ‘pick and choose’ policy

While the municipal corporation team is claiming to take a fair action against the ‘erring’ traders who encroach upon the government land, the shopkeepers on the Reikhi Cinema road have a different story to narrate.

They rue that a few dhabhas are on the MC land have been left untouched, while a few hotel owners have not even removed their four-feet wide encroachment.

Vikas Reikhi, owner of the Reikhi Cinema, however, said,”As per the MC records, the area outside my cinema hall is a green belt. Instead of developing this green area, the MC has decided to demolish it and turn it into a parking lot to facilitate dhabha owners.”

Parminder Mehta, area councillor, however, said the area in front of the Reikhi Cinema was not a green belt and was a part of the road. Most of the encroachments on the road had been removed and hence this should also go. We have no plans to turn it into a parking area.”

He was, however, quiet about the encroachment done by dhabas and many other hotels which have concrete construction on the MC road.

Meanwhile, zonal commissioner Vinod Sharda had stated that apart from removing pucca encroachments, even the shopkeepers will have to remove rehris and even pherris from outside their shops. “If any such encroachment is found, FIR will be registered against the erring shopkeeper for allowing the rehri or pherriwala to stand outside his shop,” said Sharda.

He made this announcement yesterday in Chaura Bazar and adjoining markets. It is not just Chaura Bazar but the entire Ludhiana is dotted with 50,000-odd rehris and pherris. Many shopkeepers are charging rentals ranging from Rs 15,00 to Rs 15,000 per month from vendors to stand outside their shops.

Meanwhile, the shopkeepers of Jawahar Nagar market who were given two-days have been given additional 4-5 days to remove their encroachments.

Councillor Kapil Kumar Sonu, said, “Most of the temporary encroachments have gone and now is the turn of the pucca encroachments which have to be removed.”