Eviction drive continues in Puri; encroachments at Baliapanda cleared

Puri: After undertaking a massive eviction drive around Shree Jagannath Temple, the Puri district administration today cleared encroachments which had come up on government land near sea beach in Baliapanda area.

As per official sources, a Yatri Nivas which had come up on over 1 acre land at Baliapada area was demolished in a joint operation by the district administration and Puri Municipality officials.

Delhi-based Jatrika Trust had built the Yatri Nivas here in 1984 and its lease period lapsed in 2014. The facility was operating illegally for the last five years, informed sources.

“As the place was under illegal occupation for last five years, Puri Tehsil undertook an operation to demolish the structure,” said Puri Sub-Collector, Bhabataran Sahu.

Sahu further informed that a multi-storied parking lot and market complex will come up at this place. The project would be completed at a cost of Rs 265 crore which was earlier sanctioned by Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik under Augmentation Basic Amenities & Development of Heritage & Architecture (ABADHA) scheme.

illegal encroachments at Sipasuribali under Brahmagiri Mouza were also demolished today. The eviction is likely to pave way for execution of several welfare projects including widening of road, bridges, a Loka Seva bhawan among others.