200 apartments to be demolished in Bhubaneswar: Minister

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Housing & Urban Development Minister Pratap Jena yesterday informed the Legislative Assembly that direction has been issued for demolition of as many as 200 apartments in the capital city.

Replying to a question by Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, the minister said building plans of 1643 apartments in Bhubaneswar have been approved. A total of 487 apartments have been declared illegal in the city while 200 of those will be demolished. Legal cases against 59 apartments have been dropped while cases against 92 apartments are sub-judice, said Jena.

Speaking on electricity connection and water supply to the illegal apartments, the minister said information in this regard is being collected by the department.

Worth mentioning, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) have not demolished any illegal apartment in the city so far. It is being alleged that inaction by the Enforcement Team has led to construction of such apartments in Bhubaneswar.