Ramakanta Biswas

Jajpur: Resentment is brewing among the residents of Sadhei Pokhari area of Baidyarajpur near Jajpur following the decision of the Municipality authorities to evict the families from the locality.

As per reports, the eviction drive has been planned to pave way for renovation of the local pond and setting up a park in the area.

About 25 families living in the area for decades have expressed disappointment over the eviction notice without any rehabilitation plan. They also questioned how the municipality authorities have come up with the idea of setting up the park outside its jurisdiction.

“We are living here for decades. Now the administration has decided to develop a park in the area. They should have taken measures to rehabilitate us before carrying out the eviction. Where will we go if we are evicted from the area? ” said a local resident, Jayanti Das.

Expressing similar views, another resident Kuni Das said,“Our family has been living here for four generations. If the administration is planning to take away our land, they should provide us alternative land in return. We do not have any other plot. If we are evicted, where will we go.”

According to sources, the residents had earlier urged the district administration to issue them land rights citing that they have been residing there for a long time. However, the eviction notice instead of the land rights came as a shocker for them.

Opposing the move, the residents met the district collector and requested him to take immediate step in this regard.

Taking note of the issue, Jajpur Collector Ranjan Kumar Das has reportedly asked the municipality executive officer to look into the matter.

“The residents met me and I assured them that I will hold discussion in this regard with the municipality executive officer. If there is any rehabilitation plan, the residents will be re-settled,” Das said.

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