In a significant move against land encroachment, the Barbil municipality in Keonjhar district has demolished unauthorized constructions erected by four individuals on government property. The demolition drive targeted illegal structures in Ward No. 8 of Barkat Nagar, highlighting the administration's renewed focus on reclaiming public land.
Identified Offenders and Legal Action
The four persons involved in the illegal construction have been identified as Md Raza alias Nehal Khan (32), Sahadat Khan (19), Alok Ram (19) and Abhimanyu Pradhan (26). Criminal cases are currently pending against these individuals across multiple police jurisdictions, including Barbil, Joda and Champua police station areas.
The eviction process followed proper legal channels, with notices first issued to the offenders on November 7, 2025. This gave the individuals adequate opportunity to respond before the demolition action was taken.
Administration's Stance on Land Encroachment
Joda tehsildar Rakesh Kumar Panda clarified that the eviction was conducted strictly following court orders. "The eviction has been conducted based on the court's order," Panda stated, emphasizing the legal foundation of the action.
The official revealed a startling statistic about the scale of land encroachment in the area: "In Barbil municipality area, around 50 per cent people are living on govt land." This alarming figure underscores the magnitude of the problem that authorities are attempting to address.
Regarding the recent government directive, Panda added, "Recently, govt ordered the eviction," indicating that this action is part of a broader initiative to tackle illegal occupation of government land.
Selective Enforcement Allegations and Official Response
The demolition drive has not been without controversy. Local residents have raised concerns about selective enforcement, alleging that the administration is not taking steps against influential people encroaching upon govt land.
Responding to these allegations, Tehsildar Panda defended the administration's approach: "We are taking steps against those violating government rules. Out of seven, four evictions were conducted today." This statement suggests that more actions are planned against remaining illegal constructions.
According to sources familiar with the situation, about two dozen unauthorized slums have come up in Joda and Barbil areas, creating significant challenges for urban planning and law enforcement. The sources further noted that many times criminals take shelter in these slums, adding a security dimension to the land encroachment issue.
The Barbil municipality's action represents a crucial step in addressing the widespread problem of illegal occupation of government land, though questions about consistent enforcement across all social strata remain unanswered.
