Argus News - Protests Erupt In Salia Sahi As BMC, BDA Launch Eviction Drive

Bhubaneswar, Nov 18: A joint eviction drive conducted by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) sparked unrest in the Salia Sahi slum earlier this morning, leading to heightened tensions among residents.

The authorities are carrying out the eviction to make way for a 13-kilometer left-parallel road from Ekamra Kanan to Andharua. A joint team from BDA and BMC had previously conducted similar eviction operations.

Authorities have listed 517 houses for eviction, with the operation scheduled to continue until December 24. However, the move has sparked resistance from local residents.

Many have taken to the streets, staging sit-in protests to oppose the demolition of their homes.

As the demolition began, slum-dwellers staged a protest, blocked roads and confronting police personnel deployed at the site.

Police forces, including five platoons, were stationed to maintain order and assist the civic bodies in executing the eviction.

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This is not the first such operation in the area—earlier phases of eviction had also been carried out by the joint BMC-BDA team.

The situation remains tense as authorities proceed with the clearance, while affected families demand rehabilitation and question the timing and manner of the eviction.