27 houses razed to the ground in Patna for construction of flyover

PATNA: A clash broke out between locals and those engaged in an anti-encroachment drive at Mithapur under the Jakkanpur police station area here on Saturday.
Amid presence of police force, at least 27 houses were razed on plot number 125 for the construction of the Punpun leg of Mithapur flyover. The flyover will provide direct connectivity between Mithapur bridge and Mithapur-Mahuali elevated road via Sipara.It will go parallel with the rail overbridge.
According to the officials of the district administration, a team of engineers from Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited, land acquisition office and amin of sadar zone had made a red mark in the area where the houses were to be demolished, apart from measuring the land. The construction of Punpun leg of the flyover is yet to be completed due to disruptions at a stretch of about 800 metres where the anti-encroachment drive was conducted on Saturday.
When a joint team of the district administration and the Patna Municipal Corporation reached the site with JCB machines and bulldozers, people started pelting stones. Later, a heavy police force was deployed at the site. The locals alleged that they received the notice from the district administration on Friday evening and asked to vacate houses. One Savita Devi said her home was demolished on a short notice.
“It takes a lifetime to build a house, but the administration has bulldozed our homes in just few hours. The administration is giving only Rs 40,000 as compensation for each house on which we have spent lakhs,” said Sumitra Devi, another woman whose house was razed.
The district administration, however, said they had issued notices to the property owners about eight months back. “Three notices were sent about six months back, asking the owners to claim their compensation amount,” an official said.
Pramod Kumar, district land acquisition officer, said 77 decimals of land on plot number 125 had to be acquired for the completion of the flyover project. The owners of the 27 houses were issued notices about eight months ago. The cost of this land is Rs 19.5 crore. Three notices were served on the landowners and they were asked to claim compensation. However, just two of them have claimed compensation amount so far,” he added.
Kumar said announcements were made for two days, asking the people to vacate their houses. “A camp was also organised to give compensation to the affected people. We have got 10 more applications for compensation. The district administration will organise another camp on Sunday so that the remaining people can apply for compensation,” he added.