CUTTACK: Orissa high court has directed the secretary of revenue and disaster management department “to chalk out a plan for sternly dealing with the encroachment issue in the state” and file a detailed affidavit within 10 days stating the steps being taken to deal with encroachers in rural and urban areas.
Justice S K Panigrahi issued the direction on Thursday while hearing a petition seeking intervention against initiation of eviction proceedings under the Odisha Prevention of Land Encroachment Act on a plot in Bhubaneswar.
Justice Panigrahi said, “Had there been a concrete plan of action, encroachers like the present petitioner would not have been able to occupy the land unauthorisedly for the last 30 years.”
“Therefore, it is imperative that the secretary, revenue and disaster management and urban development department shall present a detailed plan for the next five years regarding eviction of the encroachers from the encroached land in the state,” Justice Panigrahi said, adding, “They shall map the contour of encroachments in the entire state both in rural and urban areas.”
The petitioner had challenged the initiation of action by Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) to evict him from the land under his possession by announcement on mike without serving any notice.
While directing to list the matter on April 10, Justice Panigrahi said, “As an interim measure, it is directed that no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioner till the next date.”
