Encroachment at Mango farmers’ market: Second notice issued

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur: The Krishi Utpadan Bazar Samiti has issued a second notice to 142 shopkeepers, asking them to vacate the land meant for farmers in Mango. The notice instructs them to submit land allotment documents, as permanent shops have been illegally constructed on the four sheds originally built for farmers. Due to this encroachment, farmers from Patamda, Bodam and villages along NH-33 are now forced to sell their crops on the roadside, turning the area into an unorganized farmers’ market.

Despite the first notice, only one shopkeeper responded, leading to the issuance of a second notice last week. Instead of complying, the shopkeepers have submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Ananya Mittal and SDO Shatabdi Majumdar, urging them not to demolish the 78 decimals of committee land in Mango Bazaar. Under the banner of Mango Market Security Committee, shopkeepers reached the DC’s office on Tuesday and accused the Marketing Secretary of harassment through repeated notices. Among those submitting the memorandum were Jitendra Singh, Pramod Mishra, Raj Narayan Patwa, Uttam Gupta, Uday Gupta, Deepak Singh, Prabhat Singh and Rajendra Sao.

The dispute dates back to a fire in 1994, after which 52 affected shopkeepers were allowed to set up temporary shops using bamboo and tarpaulin. However, over time, some of them constructed permanent structures, encroaching on the designated farmers’ sheds. A recent land survey by Mango Zone also revealed that around 10 individuals have built houses alongside shops, further worsening the encroachment. The Marketing Secretary stated that if the required documents are not submitted after the second notice, a third and final notice will be issued before further action is taken.