Odisha Government Intensifies Efforts to Reclaim Encroached Land in Bhubaneswar.

The Odisha government intensifies efforts to reclaim over 700 acres of encroached land in Bhubaneswar, facing legal and political challenges, with recurrent re-encroachments despite eviction attempts.

Bhubaneswar, Odisha : In a decisive move to reclaim government land from illegal encroachments, various departments in Bhubaneswar have intensified their efforts following directives from state authorities. The initiative aims to identify and clear the vast tracts of government land currently under unauthorized occupation.

Reports indicate that over 700 acres of government land in Bhubaneswar are encroached upon, with significant portions belonging to the general administration, public complaints, BMC, BDA, and the forest department. Despite long-standing encroachments on 50% of this land, even recent evictions of 30 acres have failed to ensure long-term security, leading to recurrent re-encroachments.

The encroachments span a broad spectrum, from influential individuals who secure court protection before eviction to impoverished residents. Officials, often under political pressure, have not taken substantial action, rendering many eviction efforts nominal at best.

A significant challenge is the failure to secure 50% of the evicted land, resulting in its eventual re-encroachment. Advanced tools like the 'Blueis App,' designed to identify encroachments, have proven inadequate, identifying only a few minor structures.

In Salia Sahi, 256 acres of forest department land remain under encroachment. Plans to allocate this land for housing projects have stalled, and even the minimal space needed for the Jayadev Vihar-Nandankanan parallel road remains uncleared. Eviction efforts are often met with severe resistance, complicating the completion of major projects.

The GA department faces similar challenges, with 403 acres under encroachment in Bhubaneswar. A notable 94-acre segment in Unit-3, previously cleared during Janaki Ballabh Patnaik’s tenure as Chief Minister, has been re-encroached. The area saw prolonged conflicts, including blank firing and lathi charges, yet the cleared land could not be secured, leading to its reoccupation.

In Shyampur Mouza, 68.445 acres allocated to BDA for housing projects have been entirely encroached. BDA's passive stance, merely informing the EOW without taking further action, has allowed the number of encroachments to surge. Similarly, the GA and forest departments' lands in the area are now under threat of encroachment.

These instances highlight a broader issue, substantial portions of government land are occupied by influential figures who often obtain court protection, with some areas under political control. The government's push for a comprehensive list of encroached lands is met with resistance from encroachers striving to maintain their hold.

As the state intensifies its efforts, the path to reclaiming and securing government land remains fraught with legal and practical challenges, demanding robust and sustained action from the authorities.