Bhubaneswar Development Authority Resumes Major Eviction Operation in Shampur Land Scam Area
In a significant enforcement action, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) on Friday resumed its large-scale eviction drive in the Shampur area, located under Bharatpur police limits on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. This operation comes over two years after the Shampur land scam first came to light and a formal complaint was lodged with the Economic Offences Wing.
Massive Demolition and Unexpected Discovery
The first day of the anti-encroachment drive saw the demolition of 187 houses, which included 31 structures that were still under construction. The BDA deployed six excavators to carry out this extensive operation, successfully reclaiming eight acres of government land.
In an unexpected development during the eviction, officials made a startling discovery at one of the properties. They recovered 72 allegedly hoarded LPG cylinders, comprising 51 standard cylinders and 21 smaller ones. The seized cylinders were immediately handed over to the civil supplies department for thorough verification and appropriate legal action, according to official sources.
Background of the Land Scam
Officials clarified that the reclaimed land forms part of a larger 68-acre government parcel that was fraudulently sold by land mafias using forged documents at artificially low prices. This scandal initially surfaced in December 2023, as reported by The Times of India on December 29, 2023.
The land in question had been officially transferred to the BDA by the government in 2021 for the execution of an affordable housing project, making the illegal occupation particularly egregious.
Heavy Security Deployment Ensures Peaceful Operation
To maintain law and order during the sensitive eviction process, authorities deployed substantial police forces at the site. Approximately 10 platoons of police personnel, supported by nearly 50 officers, were positioned to prevent any potential disturbances.
BDA officials confirmed that the entire drive proceeded peacefully without any untoward incidents being reported. The meticulous planning and security measures contributed to the smooth execution of this large-scale operation.
Official Statements and Future Plans
A senior BDA official emphasized that the eviction was conducted following all due legal processes. "Several notices were issued earlier, and public announcements were made, requesting people to vacate the land voluntarily," the official stated. "Once fully reclaimed, this will represent one of the largest patches of land ever made free from encroachment in the state capital."
Chanchal Rana, BDA Vice-Chairman, affirmed the authority's commitment to continuing the eviction drive until all illegal encroachments on government land in the area are completely cleared. "People occupying government land illegally should vacate voluntarily," Rana asserted. "Planned development of the city is not possible unless such encroachments are systematically removed."
The BDA's determined action marks a crucial step in addressing the Shampur land scam and restoring government property for its intended public purpose of affordable housing development.
