Barbil: Acting on the order of Orissa High Court, the Keonjhar district administration today flattened the construction done by Champua MLA Sanatan Mahakud on five acres of land of infringed area at Uchabali mouza under Barbil tehsil in Keonjhar region in the nearness of addl district magistrate(ADM) and sub-collector.
Twenty five platoon of police force were conveyed at the spot in fear of a law and order situation. Prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC were also braced inside a 500-meter range of the spot.
However, Sanatan’s house and office, which is spread over 1 acre and 20 decimals of land spread over multiple plots, will not be evicted on account of a stay order issued by the High Court, official sources said.
The independent legislator refused to make any comment on the demolition. “I have nothing to say. People of Keonjhar are with me. They will give reply in the coming days”, Mahakud said.
“There are two plots – one 5 acre and the other 1 acre 20 decimals. There is a High Court stay on the 1-acre 2 decimal patch of land. In the 5 acre land, there are some temporary sheds built for cattle and livestock. Moreover, there are some construction workers who are staying in that patch of land. These constructions will be evicted,” ADM Sangram Keshari Swain had clarified earlier.
Moreover, court had also allowed the temple built on a portion of encroached land to be retained.
As per the facts mentioned in the order of the Champua Civil Judge Court and the Odisha High Court, Mahakud has encroached a vast stretch of government land at Uchabali Mouza under Badbil tehsil since 1980. He has built a mansion on the encroached land, which comes under Essel mining lease area.
