The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) have decided to demolish 175 illegal buildings that have come up on government land or has not compiled with building norms. The demolition will be carried out in a phased manner with the help of excavators.
The decision comes days after the Odisha Development Authority (ODA) court gave the go-ahead for demolition of the illegal structures. Altogether 6,000 disputed cases related to building rules violations are pending in BDA and BMC courts, which are being heard. Only in the case of 175 apartments the ODA court hearing has been final.
BDA vice-chairman and BMC commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhury said the demolition will be carried out using excavators as they are small buildings. “The demolition will be carried out as per ODA court order. But those who have appealed before the higher authority or moved the Orissa high court seeking stay, their buildings will not be demolished till the disposal of their cases,” Chaudhury said.
Chaudhury said the nature of violations committed by the developers vary from building to building. “While many have constructed buildings illegally on government land, drains or natural nullahs, others have not complied with mandatory norms,” Chaudhury added.
Around 1200 families are likely to be affected if the 175 apartments are razed. As per Section 92(2) of ODA (Amendment) Act, 2015, the BDA and BMC can seal the illegal buildings before demolishing them.
Before carrying out the demolition, the BDA and BMC will make a joint appeal to the occupants to vacate the buildings will all their belongings.
After the ODA court’s order, people have the option to appeal to the appellate authority in the housing and urban development (H&UD) department. If the verdict by the appellate authority goes against them, they can move the high court.
The cases related to building rule violations are decided in the ODA courts in BMC and BDA. The 175 apartments against which the demolition has been ordered are the ones whose fate has been decided in both the courts. The apartments which fall under BMC jurisdiction will get demolition notice from BMC court and the ones coming under BDA jurisdiction will get notice from the BDA.
