Eviction drive to clear encroachments around Lingaraj Temple begins

Bhubaneswar: Eviction drive for razing encroachments around the Lingaraj Temple in Odisha capital began today with demolition of several shops near the shrine.

The drive by Bhubaneswar Development Authority and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation commenced around 11 am. Illegal structures located on the stretch from Singhadwara of the temple to Bhajan Mandap and sub-station will be cleared in the first phase. The process was underway peacefully amid no protest from the shopkeepers and locals.

The shop owners had already vacated the shops as an announcement regarding the eviction drive was made by the authorities yesterday.

The encroachments are being cleared for widening of roads and creation of more public space around the temple. Recently, Lingaraj Market Complex close to the temple was razed to create more space in the vicinity. The land will be handed over to Tourism Department for beautification project. Survey for identification of all unauthorised and unsafe structures and encroachments was carried out in October.