Jan. 7: The Board of Revenue, Assam, has put spanner in the Kamrup (metro) administration’s bid to evict encroachments on a plot of government land along the AT Road near Adabari bus terminus.

A source in the administration said today that the demolition squad had to return disappointed yesterday after the board put a stay on the eviction of occupants from the plot.

The source said that around 25 unauthorised shops have come up on this plot. The demolition squad had just launched the eviction drive amid heavy deployment of police personnel, when one of the affected parties arrived with the stay order, he said.

The stay order has sparked resentment among officials of the administration.

“This stay will set a bad precedent. Such developments will only boost the confidence of encroachers. Deputy commissioner Avinash Joshi had issued the eviction order after he examined the matter thoroughly and was satisfied that the roadside plot of government land was under illegal occupation,” said an officer of the administration.

The district administration has decided to submit a report to the revenue board seeking withdrawal of the stay order.

“We have even received complaints that some of the encroachers have constructed shops on the plot and rented them out to others. They are collecting good sums as rent every month,” the source said.

He added that unavailability of vacant government land at suitable places has posed a serious threat to the city’s development.

“Most of the government lands are encroached upon. This has made it a daunting task for government agencies to find convenient plots to implement the schemes proposed for the city’s development,” the source said.