The Orissa High Court has issued a warning that if encroachers return near drainage channels in Cuttack city after being removed, the Inspectors-in-Charge (IICs) of the relevant police stations will be responsible for covering the cost of their removal by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC).

The admonition was issued by a special bench comprising Justice S. K. Sahoo and Justice V. Narasingha, formed recently by Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh to address PILs related to civic issues in Cuttack. The bench was hearing cases concerning the mishaps occurring while connecting drainage channels from various parts of the city to the main water channel.

On May 9, the court directed the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) to clear all encroachments in and around water channels and emphasized that the Inspectors-in-Charge (IICs) would be responsible for any new encroachments.

During subsequent proceedings, CMC's counsel, Debashis Nayak, informed the court that encroachments had been cleared from Connection Street to Badambadi and from OMP Square to Nua Market. He assured the court that the remaining encroachments would be removed soon.