Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), July 31: City Mayor Sulochana Das announced on Wednesday that the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is prepared to demolish unauthorized apartments within its jurisdiction, provided that the Odisha government offers compensation for the demolition costs.
This statement follows Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra’s report to the Assembly, revealing that 689 apartments in Bhubaneswar alone have been built illegally. The Minister also noted that legal proceedings have been initiated against a total of 719 apartments statewide, including those in Bhubaneswar, for breaching various regulations.
Mayor Das stated that the BMC will act on the government’s directive once it is formally received. She highlighted that many of these unauthorized constructions were previously under the jurisdiction of local panchayats and have led to encroachments on water bodies, exacerbating drainage issues in the affected areas.
Das emphasized that while the BMC is committed to removing illegal structures from government lands, the process hinges on receiving appropriate compensation for the demolition work. “We are ready to implement the government’s decision on unauthorized constructions. However, the BMC currently lacks sufficient funds for compensation, which is necessary if an apartment is demolished,” she added.
