BARIPADA: Mayurbhanj district administration on Monday launched an eviction drive to free Government land from encroachers and create space for construction of a bridge and road.In the first phase, the administration evicted encroachers at Madhuban in Ward-7 under Baripada municipality which is located near the embankment of Budhabalanga river where the bridge will come up. The foundation stone of the bridge was recently laid by Deputy Speaker Sananda Marandi.
Sources in the district administration said encroachments will be cleared from the embankment in a phase manner. At least 300 families have encroached the Government land along Budhabalanga embankment. Earlier, the administration had issued notices to these families to clear the Government land. In-charge Tehsildar of Baripada Vishal Singh said in the first phase, the administration evicted 28 families on Monday. The next phase will start shortly.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people blocked the State Highway between Udala and Baripada at Madhuban protesting the eviction drive. Due to the blockade, communication on the highway was paralysed for an hour before officials rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Adequate police force was deployed to avert any untoward incident during the drive.The bridge will be constructed between Madhuban and Poda-Astia at a cost of `27.29 crore. Currently, the British-era bridge over Budhabalanga is in a dilapidated condition and fails to cater to public needs.