ANGUL: The Orissa High Court has issued notices to the Secretary of Union Surface Transport ministry and the District Collector of Dhenkanal besides the Bhusan Steel Limited authorities to submit their reply in four weeks on the issue of encroachments of canal land. Similarly, the Secretaries of Irrigation, Revenue and Steel and Mines, the Dhenkanal Collector, the SP besides the Bhusan authorities have been asked to reply within the same time frame on the issue of illegal installation of railway tracks on National Highway 42. The notices were issued following a PIL against Dhenkanal-based Bhusan Steel Limited filed by a Talcher-based journalist Purna Chandra Sahu. Sahu stated that construction of rail line breaching the NH is illegal and in violation of the NH Act of 1956. Arguing that while PSUs like Nalco constructed over-bridges to avoid touching NH Bhusan laid rail line on NH-42 between Meramandali and Banarpal endangering the lives of commuters. The rail line will pose a serious problem for commuters from Western districts and particularly those from Talcher and Angul. Sahu mentioned that World Bank-funded Rengali canal authorities had acquired land under the Land Acquisition Act for right canal. Out of these, 1,360 metre-long canal covering 4.57 acre has been encroached upon by Bhusan Steel authorities for construction of its railway track and an electrical sub-station. The land belonged to four local villages which were acquired by canal authorities for irrigation. He also highlighted that there were 12 letters from various officials of the Irrigation Department, including from the Secretary of Irrigation to the Dhenkanal district authorities, against the encroachment but there was no action. Even an FIR was filed at Motanga police station in this regard by Irrigation official.