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CDA acts tough

CUTTACK: Following the Supreme Court’s concern and the innumerable number of orders of the High Court, the Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) has launched a drive to demolish illegal and unauthorised constructions in the city.

The drive, which began on Friday, would continue for a month without any break, CDA officials said.

There were over 6,000 constructions that violated the CDA (planning and building standard) Regulations-2001. But, some 4,000 of these structures would not be touched now since the owners had obtained stay orders from different courts.

But CDA Vice-Chairman Bijay Kumar Dhal said constructions that were free from any court embargo would be grounded and the remaining would be demolished after getting directions from courts. “We have demolished parts of the constructions of high-rise buildings located in Ganesh Ghat, Link Road and Nandi Sahi areas of the city and this drive will continue,” he asserted.

Illegal constructions and rampant encroachments posed serious problems in water supply, sewerage and traffic movement.

In the wake of Supreme Court’s concern over rampant unauthorised and illegal high-rise buildings that were threatening the local environment and safety of the occupants, the CDA reviewed all high-rise buildings in the city which deviated from the actual and approved plans.

Disposing of a special leave petition (SLP) in 2005, the Apex court had come down very seriously on the sorry and sordid state of affairs in the city. It observed that “builders violate with impunity the sanctioned plans and indulge in deviations much to the prejudice of the planned development of the city and at the peril of the occupants.”

The court also indicted the CDA for not discharging its functions properly.

“The staff either don’t act or do not act promptly or do connive at such activities apparently for illegitimate considerations,” the court felt and said that responsibility should be fixed on erring officials.

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