Baripada MLA Prakash Soren on Wednesday lashed out at the civic body for its eviction drive at the bus stand. Terming the move as illegal, he said the municipality has no authority to vacate the area around the bus stand as the land belongs to the Endowment department. The MLA also alleged that the civic body has given temporary licences to 255 shops in the town illegally and a few councillors are involved in the racket.
He said eviction drives carried out by the civic body cause inconvenience to roadside traders. Accusing the district administration of turning a blind eye to the menace of roadside parking of buses across the town, he said, “No action is taken by the administration in this regard as the owners of the buses are close to political leaders.”