Sharmili Mallick

Cuttack: Three temples were razed during the eviction drive for the beautification and expansion of the SCB Medical College and Hospital in the millennium city which is jointly carried out by the district administration and Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), on Friday.

All roadside shops along the Pilgrim Road on the west of the Ravenshaw University are being cleared during the drive. Similarly, the slums and temples between Ravenshaw University and Taladanda Canal will also be bulldozed later during the day.

All illegal structures along the Taladanda Canal road from Ranihat to Matru Bhawan Chhak will be evicted in the second phase of the drive.

The first phase demolition drive for the expansion of SCB Medical College and Hospital project was carried out at Jobra and Ranihat without an incident as locals cooperated with the administration and CMC.

"Three religious institutions erected on different government plots in the area are being evicted on the first day of the second phase eviction drive. The slums will also be demolished in a phased manner and the residents will be provided with remuneration and will be relocated as per the State government's rules," said the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Cuttack.

Some local shopkeepers protested the demolition drive and said they must be relocated first so that they do not lose their livelihood.

"We have been visiting the temple since the last 30 years and its demolition is unfortunate. Around 150 shopkeepers will lose their livelihood due to the eviction drive. The government is giving just assurances of relocation but till now nothing has been done," said a shopkeeper who has been doing business in the area over the past 20 years.

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