Bhubaneswar tops list with 689 illegal apartments among 719 statewide

Bhubaneswar, July 30: Urban and Housing Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra today revealed in the Assembly that there are approximately 719 illegal apartments and constructions across the state, with the majority of these violations occurring in Bhubaneswar.

Responding to a query from Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, the Minister detailed that out of the total 719 illegal structures, 689 are located in Bhubaneswar alone. The report indicates that these violations fall under the purview of sections 90, 91, and 92 of the Odisha Development Authorities Act of 1982.

Although a formal assessment of illegal constructions in Odisha has not been conducted, the data highlights a significant concentration of violations within Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) limits. Despite existing regulations, enforcement has been inadequate. Previous orders to demolish around 200 illegal constructions in Bhubaneswar have not been acted upon, and some individuals and institutions have managed to regularize these structures by exploiting legal loopholes.