BHUBANESWAR: The eviction drives in the Capital will now get smoother with the State Government’s nod for appointment of two city magistrates to supervise the enforcement exercises undertaken by the civic authorities.
In a recent notification, the General Administration (GA) Department approved the proposal discussed at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary. Senior officials of Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), GA Department and Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) were present at the meeting.
In another notification by the GA Department, the name of City Enforcement Monitoring Committee (CEMC) was changed to Central Enforcement Monitoring Committee (CEMC). Henceforth, all the eviction and demolition drives in the Capital will be undertaken by CEMC.
As per the proposal, it was decided that two police officers with the power of executive magistrate will be attached with the enforcement drives. For every eviction drive, it is mandatory for the CEMC to requisition force from the Commissionerate Police. On many occasions, it was found that the enforcement activities of CEMC took a hit as the police force had to be re-routed to deal with law and order situation elsewhere.
The two city magistrates, under Commissionerate of Police, will be exclusively responsible for enforcement work in the city.
Earlier, two platoons of police force dedicated to eviction drive was also approved by the State Government.
With the approval of the police force, the eviction drives have been streamlined to a great extent in the recent past. Six enforcement squads under CEMC have also been approved.
A special committee has been formed under CEMC to assess the equipment like vehicles, uniform and camera required for everyday enforcement drive.
After the list of equipment is finalised, it will be placed before the State Government for procurement.
Freeing land from grabbers
■ Name of City Enforcement Monitoring Committee changed to Central Enforcement Monitoring Committee
■ Two police officers with powers of executive magistrate will be attached with enforcement drives
■ For every eviction drive it is mandatory for CEMC to requisition force from CP
■ Six enforcement squads under CEMC have also been approved