Bhubaneswar: To curb unauthorized construction in Bhubaneswar, Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra announced today that 191 illegally built apartments and buildings in the capital city are slated for demolition. This decision is part of the state’s broader effort to address the increasing issue of unauthorized structures.
Responding to a question from MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, the minister revealed that the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has registered 491 cases of illegal construction. Of these, demolition orders have been issued for 191 buildings, while 63 cases have been dismissed, and 237 remain sub-judice.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is also dealing with a large number of unauthorized developments. According to Minister Mohapatra, the BMC has filed 1,444 cases, resolving 451 of them, with 993 cases still pending.
City Mayor Sulochana Das, addressing the issue last month, had called for state government compensation to help expedite the demolition of illegal apartments. Das pointed out that several builders had sold off properties and absconded, leaving the BMC with limited control over these developments, which have worsened drainage issues by encroaching on natural water bodies.
Das also noted that these illegal structures were originally under panchayat control but now fall within the BMC’s jurisdiction. She emphasized that once the state government provides compensation and official orders, the BMC would act swiftly to remove these unauthorized buildings and restore order to the city’s urban planning.