CDA’s eviction drive sparks tension at Petanal

Tension ran high at Badinasi area in Cuttack on Monday after slum-dwellers opposed the eviction drive being carried out by Cuttack development Authority at their locality.

CDA officials were carrying out the eviction drive near Petanala in Bidanasi, when a few locals objected. As tension broke out, police forces were deployed to ease out the issue.

According to sources, CDA has decided to carry out an eviction drive on three acres of land near Petanal to set up a commercial complex. However, slum-dwellers have encroached upon the land and developed it into a slum over the years. The slum-dwellers protested the eviction drive demanding rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, CDA has decided to write to the state government following the eviction drive seeking rehabilitation of the slum-dwellers.

A slum-dweller said, “Before rehabilitating us, CDA authorities demolished our houses. On Friday, the authorities announced it and early this morning they came up with the team to demolish our houses. It is difficult to get a house in rainy days.”

She further said, “The inhumane way in which the CDA forcefully carried out the eviction drive without prior notice is illegal. It has rendered our children homeless.”

CDA officer Paresh Nayak said, “When CDA 9 was set up we had taken 138 acres of land from the state government on lease. We have 16 acres of land near Petanala. However, slum dwellers have encroached upon it over the years. CDA will set up a commercial complex on three acre land for which we started eviction drive on three acre of land. We will write to the state government to rehabilitate the slum-dwellers.”