June 25th 2024.
Residents of Berhampur, also known as the Silk City, are facing a difficult situation when it comes to affordable housing. The demand for housing far exceeds the available supply, causing frustration among the locals. As the city's population continues to grow, with an estimated five lakh people residing there, it has become a matter of concern for the authorities. This rise in population can be attributed to the presence of renowned educational institutions, attracting people from nearby rural areas to the city.
The overcrowding in Berhampur has become a pressing issue, especially for urban dwellers who are struggling to find suitable housing. However, the government has yet to take any concrete steps to address this problem. According to sources, the Berhampur Municipal Corporation is currently collecting holding tax from 80,000 households. Unfortunately, tenants from different categories are facing difficulties as landlords charge exorbitant rents at their own discretion. During the recent election campaign, the ruling BJP party had promised to work towards improving the living conditions of the poor and middle-class citizens. Therefore, residents are hopeful that the new state government will prioritize resolving the housing issue.
The Berhampur Regional Improvement Trust (BRIT) was established in 1980 by the Congress government with the aim of promoting organized growth in urban and suburban areas of the city. Later, in 1993, it was upgraded to the Berhampur Development Authority (BeDA). The state Housing and Urban Development Department, under the BRIT, had taken the initiative to address the housing problems faced by the locals due to the influx of people from rural areas. As part of this plan, two housing complexes were constructed at Gajapati Nagar and Nilakantha Nagar, and beneficiaries from economically weaker sections, MIG, and HIG were chosen through a lottery system.
However, the beneficiaries who were given houses at the Nilakantheswar complex found them to be in an incomplete state. They were forced to complete the construction on their own before taking possession. Unfortunately, this was just the beginning of a long-standing controversy surrounding the construction of housing complexes in the Silk City. The Janata Dal government, led by Biju Patnaik, dissolved BRIT and formed BeDA in its place, which soon took steps to build a housing complex at Vivek Vihar, near Ambapua. This proposal received a positive response from the locals, who eagerly applied and deposited advance money for a house. However, years have passed, and the controversy surrounding the Vivek Vihar Housing Complex remains unresolved. Despite 35 years since its formation, BeDA has not taken any significant steps towards building new houses for the residents. Over the years, various BJD leaders and government officials have chaired BeDA, but progress has been minimal.
Currently, the District Collector is the chairman of BeDA, with the BeMC Commissioner serving as its vice-chairman. The authority has received substantial funds for implementing various developmental projects in the city but has failed to address the housing issue. However, the recent political shift in Berhampur, with BJP candidates winning the Lok Sabha and Berhampur MLA seats, has given hope to the residents. They are now demanding the intervention of these leaders to find a solution to the housing problem in their city.
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