Ranchi: Encroachment on thousands of acres of land belonging to Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) has been ongoing in Jharkhand for years. Despite compensation being offered, some lands remain occupied without being vacated. Periodic campaigns are launched to remove encroachments, but freeing the land from occupation proves challenging. The state government has demanded lease payment from PSUs for their land. Subsequently, Coal India has instructed all companies to demarcate the occupied land. The Coal Ministry has also directed all coal companies to undergo mutation of the acquired land by writing letters. Failure to mutate the land often leads to disputes between the state government and private landowners. Therefore, all companies are required to demarcate the land and undergo mutation.
HCIL Occupies 73.05 Acres of Land
HCIL currently occupies 73.05 acres of land, with a lease rate set at Rs 12 crore per acre. This values the occupied land at Rs 876 crore, which is more than double its actual worth. The management has reported consistent illegal construction on the land, with the number of violations remaining the same for financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23. Despite efforts by security personnel responsible for preventing and removing illegal constructions, they have been protesting for the past 84 days. Unauthorized construction of shops, houses, and garages continues unabated in residential areas. Even after receiving complaints, no action has been taken against the perpetrators of illegal construction.
HCIL Lacks Resources to Remove Illegal Constructions
Due to HCIL’s poor financial condition, the management lacks resources to remove illegal constructions. While vehicles are available for patrolling residential areas, there are no funds to refuel them, hindering security patrols. Continuous illegal construction in residential areas has led to the establishment of several colonies. Additionally, unauthorized buying and selling of HCIL land persist, despite complaints filed with relevant police stations and authorities. This lack of action allows the land transactions to proceed unchecked, causing financial losses to the revenue department due to land occupation.
CCL Occupies Nearly 1700 Acres of Land
CCL currently occupies approximately 1700 acres of land, with ongoing struggles between management and rural residents. Furthermore, people have occupied land outside the designated mining areas, with some areas even transformed into markets. CCL has acquired around 18 lakh acres of land, with nearly one percent of the land under occupation. While the company has acquired several plots, mining operations have not commenced, leaving people stranded for years.
Encroachment on BSL’s 1800 Acres of Land
According to the audit report conducted for the financial year 2020-21, BSL’s 1932 acres of land have fallen into the hands of encroachers. Some of the land has been reclaimed, but approximately 1800 acres of BSL’s land remain occupied. The Jharkhand High Court issued directives in 2011 to free BSL’s land from encroachment, emphasizing the consequences of non-compliance. Despite joint efforts by the administration and management, approximately 1800 acres of BSL’s land are still under occupation.
Locations Affected by Encroachment
Encroachments have been observed in various sectors of Bokaro, including Lakdi Gola, Sonatand, Ranipokhar, Baidhmara, Narkara, Bansimli, Dumro, Karhariya, and Pippardand, along with Ramdeeh Mode and Sector-9 areas. Additionally, encroachments have occurred around the Gandhi Nagar Colony, where various types of construction have been undertaken.
