The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has proposed to adopt advanced technology to speed up demolition in the city.
Tightening its noose around illegal structures, BDA started demolition work of two major buildings in the last two months. One of the buildings was a half-constructed five-storey structure in Ashok Nagar and another was a commercial shopping complex on Janpath near Master Canteen. In both the cases, BDA had to stop the demolition after the respective owners procured a stay order from the High Court to stop the demolition.
In case of the Ashok Nagar building, the authorities got five days to bring down the structure and in case of the shopping complex, only two days.
BDA sources said they usually face problems in bringing together various logistics like equipment, paper work, legal permission and the police force.
One major problem faced by the development authorities is that they do not have advanced technology for carrying out the demolition. BDA had approved use of implosion technology. But the contractor, who is supposed to provide the technology,
has reportedly asked the authorities to club more than two demolitions together and only then can the technology be provided. Since the contractor was the only one to respond to BDA’s global tender, they are still trying to work out logistics.
BDA’s Enforcement Wing is now trying to rope in advanced machinery like smaller excavators and hydraulic ladders.
“Since we know we have limited time, we try to inflict as much damage to the structure as we can. In case of Ashok Nagar demolition, the structure has been damaged completely and its owner will have to work on it afresh,” said a senior BDA official.