During the FIH Pro League match in opposition to the USA on February 18, native sensation Jyoti Chhetri, a 20-year-old ahead, captivated the house crowd. Her dad and mom watched from the stadium, situated lower than 2 km away from their residence in Rourkela’s Panposh neighborhood.
For Jyoti, a rising star within the nationwide girls’s hockey staff, final week appeared like a fairy story, with one notable exception – the looming menace to her household’s dwelling.
While Jyoti has been excelling on the sphere, she’s been grappling with the prospect of her home being demolished. The household has obtained a discover from native authorities to vacate the premises for highway widening.
This poses a major problem because the Chhetri household has resided in the home for twenty years, having constructed it on authorities land spanning an estimated 300 sq. toes, with none official documentation.
“I moved to Rourkela from Ranchi in 1988,” Bhim informed Indian Express. (Who Is Anmol Kharb? From Haryana With Dreams Of Conquering The World, 17-Year-Old Leads India to First Asian Team Championships Title)
“When I first came here, I was a watchman at the hostel and stayed in quarters they provided. I joined their canteen as a helper cook. Then I got married, two kids were born and the place was too small to live with the family.”
He alleged {that a} hostel official really useful developing a home on the small plot of land exterior the primary gate. The household of 4 relocated there shortly after Jyoti’s delivery, and it served as their dwelling till two years in the past, when native authorities arrived unannounced at their doorstep.
“Some 8-10 government officials came to take measurements and informed us that they will demolish the house,” Bhim mentioned. “They gave us time till 2025 or latest 2026 before the demolition job begins….We cannot afford to buy a new house or land. We have requested the government officials to rehabilitate us. They asked us for our Aadhar cards and other documents. But there is no response yet.”
After the home is demolished, the slender one-lane highway shall be expanded to alleviate congestion on the bridge spanning the river, linking Kuarmunda to Panposh, which is 10 km away. This stretch varieties a part of a nationwide freeway, and the widening venture to transform it right into a four-lane highway is overseen by the NHAI in Odisha.
A supply inside NHAI, preferring anonymity, expressed unawareness of this specific case. However, they emphasised that in cases of encroachment on authorities property, demolition notifications are sometimes issued both by the tehsildar or the competent authority overseeing land acquisition, typically led by the Additional District Magistrate or NHAI.
District Collector of Sundargarh – during which the realm falls — Gavali Parag Harshad mentioned he’ll look into the case and guaranteed all assist to Indian Express.
“Though I am not fully aware of the issue, I will definitely look into it. Whatever help is required to her (Jyoti) family, we will extend on our behalf. Even if it’s not possible on our part, we will request the state government to extend help,” Harshad mentioned.
Six months in the past, Jyoti approached the Additional District Magistrate looking for aid. “He assured me they will do something but nothing has happened till now. I am doing whatever I can to seek some support.”
