Ranchi admin launches anti-encroachment drive, demolishes 100 huts near Birsa Chowk

Ranchi: The district administration and the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) launched a major anti-encroachment drive near the Birsa Chowk on Saturday and removed illegal structures from the land belonging to the Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC).

Nearly 100 huts and several brick houses were demolished during the operation, which was carried out under tight police security.Officials said the eviction was aimed at freeing land that had been under encroachment for decades. “Nearly a 500-metre stretch was cleared with nearly 100 huts and several brick houses removed in the process. This land belongs to HEC and has been encroached upon for the last 25 to 30 years.

The action was necessary to restore it to HEC,” circle officer Nitin Gupta, who supervised the demolition, said. Despite notices and two drives earlier this year, the encroachers had returned to the sites.On Saturday, demolition teams deployed three earth movers and conducted the drive. RMC officials said announcements for the eviction had been made nearly eight months ago, and multiple notices had been served since then, but the residents did not vacate voluntarily.

“The Friday deadline had already been given, and today’s drive was the final step,” Gupta said. However, chaos erupted in the area as the demolition began.

Families were seen running in panic, carrying household items, utensils, and other goods on their heads as the heavy machines rolled in. Some cried while trying to save whatever items they could, while others argued with the officials. For many, the demolition means losing their only shelter.“We built this small hut with our savings over the years. We knew the land was not ours, but we had no option. The govt should have given us some time or an alternative place,” said Raju Munda, an evicted resident.Sunita Devi, whose small brick house was razed, said, “We sell vegetables on hand carts to feed our children. Suddenly, we are told to move out. Where will we live now?” Other evicted residents claimed they had even been paying holding tax and electricity bills over the years and argued that they now have a right to stay.

An RMC official, however, clarified, “Paying holding tax or electricity bills does not confer land ownership.

These charges were collected only because they were using civic amenities.” Officials maintained that the drive was unavoidable. “Encroachment cannot be allowed on public land. It creates law and order issues and prevents planned development. The people were given enough time to vacate,” a district administration official.