Sambalpur: Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari said here on Wednesday that state govt will soon commence an eviction drive against influential individuals who have illegally occupied govt plots.
During a media briefing at Gudeswar temple, the minister said demolition of unauthorised structures, including palaces, cottages, and pavilions built by influential people on govt and forest lands, will begin shortly.

Pujari emphasised that the drive will target encroachers on govt plots across the state, regardless of their status or influence. “In 75 years of Independence, we have often seen the demolition of 4 decimal houses of poor people. Now, real faces of influential people having a clean image in society and having constructed pavilions and palaces on govt lands will be unveiled. In the coming days, their structures will be bulldozed,” he said.
The minister said anyone who has grabbed land, forests or air, whether it is any industry or others who thought the country gained Independence for their personal benefit, will face consquences. He said poor people, for whom the country achieved Independence, will get their rights over land, forest, air and water.
During a plantation programme in Kanijuri area here, Pujari highlighted the govt’s commitment to controlling pollution caused by the dumping of fly ash by industries, which pollutes water, soil and air. He warned that action will be taken against those industries and close attention will be paid to the management of industrial waste. Pujari said he had called many industrialists and cautioned them to reduce pollution from their units as it is harmful, contrary to the expectations of employment and business growth during industrialisation.

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