Little action against illegal buildings: CAG

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, June 24: Section 91 of ODA Act provided that in case of unauthorised and deviated constructions, the Development Authorities would direct the owner of such constructions to remove the same by demolition within a period of 15 days from the date of issue of such direction.In case of failure, such demolition would be done by the Authority concerned at the cost of the owner.But the situation continues to remain different. According to the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, audit noticed that in Bhubaneswar Development Authority, out of 19846 cases registered against unauthorised and deviated constructions including 437 high rise buildings, demolition orders were passed in 5687cases during 1988-2012, of which in 4025 cases, the demolition orders were not executed even after expiry of five years from the dates of passing of the demolition orders.“On test check of records, audit also noticed that in 84 such cases pertaining to 2001-11, unauthorised apartment buildings were not demolished, due to inaction of Enforcement Wing.“In Cuttack Development Authority, out of 136 unauthorised proceeding (UAP) cases up to March 2012, though demolition orders for 73 cases were passed but were not executed.Thus, due to lack of effective enforcement of demolition orders, builders who violated the regulation continued unauthorised and deviated constructions and irregular sale transactions as a consequence thereof, the CAG said in its report that was placed in the Odisha Assembly on Monday.