Demand for cheap milk turns park plot into slum

BHUBANESWAR: A plot earmarked for a community park in Ekamra Vihar has turned into a slum, complete with cowsheds.
Years ago, residents of the colony apparently gave in to the desire for cheap milk and allowed one or two milkmen to stay on the nearly one-acre plot meant for the park. That decision has now backfired.
The milkmen, who encroached upon the land years ago, have even reportedly sold a portion of the plot to some persons and allowed them to build houses there.
Set up in the 1990s, Ekamra Vihar near the Regional Plant Resource Centre (popularly known as Ekamra Kanan), is occupied by nearly 100 families.
"Initially, local residents allowed one or two milkmen to stay on the site meant for the park, hoping to get cow's milk at a cheap rate. But after a few days, the milkmen apparently sold off the government land to others. Today, it has become a major headache for residents here. We also have information that there is political pressure not to vacate the area," said Aparti Behera, another local resident.
With heaps of cow dung and a compost pit, the area has turned into a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other disease-spreading insects. Passers-by literally have to hold their noses while crossing the area because of the stink. The problem worsens in the monsoon.
"Initially, one or two milkmen stayed on the vacant plot meant for the park. Slowly, it turned into a cowshed and more families started staying in the area. Today, it has turned into a mini slum, with several cowsheds," said Arun Kumar Mishra, a local resident.
The unauthorized cowsheds and slum at the park site are not the only problems plaguing residents of Ekamra Vihar. The main drain, which runs from Ekamra Kanan to Jayadev Vihar, has also been encroached upon and obstructed by some residents.
"Since the drain is obstructed, rainwater during heavy downpours floods the entire area. People are forced to walk through knee-deep water and the low-lying areas of the locality often get submerged. Even after repeated pleas, no action has been taken," said H K Mohapatra, a retired government servant who lives in Ekamra Vihar.
Asked about the encroachment problem, mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said, "We have developed community parks in several areas of the capital. The Ekamra Vihar site will be vacated and a park will be developed there. Notices have already been served on encroachers and the illegal structures in the locality will be demolished anytime now."