Waltair Division of ECoR continues its intensified checks against encroachments of railway land and illegal subletting of railway quarters over its jurisdiction. Divisional Railway Manager, Shri Anup Satpathy has been reviewing   the intensive drives over the Division, gave directives to the authorities to initiate stringent action against the unauthorized sheds/ occupations.

Recently DRM inspected Jagdalpur railway colony where some illegal huts had come up in the colony from where illegal activities and crime syndicates were reportedly running for years and decades. The DRM initiated strong disciplinary action against the railway staff who were indulged in the illegal subletting and who have been extending helping hands to the illegal occupants of railway land. Notices were served to the occupants and law & order action is being initiated against the law breakers.
 
It has been observed that illegal subletting and forcible occupation of railway land has been rampantly going on for years and the illegal occupants deemed it to be the right upon the land. Taking this as an opportunity, several religious establishments have also mushroomed in railway land and developed permanent establishments in many places.

There is lot of revenue leakage in the name these activities and outsiders are taking shelter in the name of religious activities for various other activities. Therefore, notices have been served to all such religious establishments in the Division to make arrangements to vacate railway land with immediate effect. In this connection orders have been served to the concerned officials for immediate stoppage of such activities and to disconnect the supply of water, electricity etc.  

Further, directives issued to take stringent action against the staff who indulged in slack supervision or who colluded with these outsiders for such illegal activities particularly in view of the recent pronouncement of the Hon'ble Supreme Court. 

DRM Shri Anup Satpathy said “strict instructions were served for vacation of illegally occupied railway land by the intruders for which the local administration has also been informed and requested for necessary support. There was great deal of positive response received from the higher echelons of the respective state governments.

No tolerance for illegal and forcible occupation of Railway land has been reiterated as the goal.  All the accused whether the railway staff or outsiders will be dealt with stringently. No stone will be left unturned to meet the goal”. Development could not be possible with illegal activities and encroachments of railway land, he added. 
 
As per the extant instructions received from the Railway Board, notices have been served to all the persons occupying the railway land to leave the premises within 15 days time, otherwise criminal proceedings must follow against the accused.

Hence, all the concerned have been advised to cooperate with the administration and to support the noble mission, so that railway’s interest of safeguarding its premises and employees safety can be attained without any hitch.