Odisha's Bhubaneswar to see demolition of 191 illegal buildings

Bhubaneswar, Aug 27: Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra on Tuesday announced that 191 illegally constructed buildings and apartments in Bhubaneswar will be demolished. This update came in response to a query by BJD MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain during a session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

Minister Mohapatra explained that the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has registered a total of 491 cases concerning unauthorized constructions. Of these, demolition orders have been issued for 191 structures, while 63 cases have been dismissed. Currently, 237 cases remain under judicial review.

Additionally, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has reported 1,444 cases of illegal constructions. Out of these, 451 cases have been resolved, with 993 still pending.

Previously, Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das indicated that the BMC is prepared to demolish these unauthorized buildings, provided the state government offers compensation for the task. Many builders have abandoned their projects after selling plots, leaving the BMC with diminished oversight. These developments, initially managed by local panchayats, are now under BMC jurisdiction. This shift has resulted in the encroachment of natural water bodies, exacerbating drainage issues in the city, according to Mayor Das.