Ganjam administration evicts illegal encroachments to reclaim public spaces

Berhampur: The Ganjam administration on Monday evicted encroachments from public places on the stretch from Tata Benz to Kamapalli in silk city. Around 100 shops that had illegally extended their outlets by encroaching on the road were razed during the drive.

The drive was conducted jointly by the revenue department, Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) and police. “Officials of different agencies, including Watco and power distribution company, took part in the drive,” said Avinash Kumar, sub-collector of Berhampur, who led the drive. Police was deployed to maintain law and order.

The sub-collector said the areas were reclaimed for public utility. “There was no untoward incident reported during the drive,” said Kumar. He said some of the shop owners extended a helping hand and none of them opposed the drive.

SP (Berhampur), Saravana Vivek M, said, “The drive was completely peaceful.”

The 0.5km-long stretch, one of the busiest roads in Berhampur, witnesses heavy traffic flow during the peak hours. The carriageway had become narrow following the extension and barricading by some outlets by illegally encroaching the road and drains, sources said.

Kumar said the drive would be continue for some more days in different areas where there is traffic congestion due to encroachment. “We have identified some more areas to undertake eviction drives,” he said.