Jamshedpur MLA seeks action on 53 idle shops in Bhalubasa

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, June 20: A long-pending rehabilitation issue involving 53 tin-shed shops in Bhalubasa resurfaced on Saturday after Jamshedpur East MLA Purnima Sahu paid a surprise visit to the Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) office and sharply questioned officials over the prolonged delay in allotting the shops to displaced vendors.
Constructed in 2019 to rehabilitate roadside traders affected by an anti-encroachment drive, the shops have remained locked and unused for nearly six years.

The matter, which has left several eligible vendors without a permanent source of livelihood, has allegedly remained trapped in administrative red tape.
The MLA’s sudden inspection created a stir within the civic body, although neither the Municipal Commissioner nor senior officials were available at the office during her visit.
Expressing strong displeasure over the situation, Sahu spoke directly with Deputy Municipal Commissioner Krishna Kumar over the phone and directed him to convene a high-level review meeting on June 22 to resolve the issue. She asserted that further administrative delays would not be tolerated and sought a detailed review of the files related to the project.
Speaking to the media, the legislator recalled that the shops had been formally allotted to beneficiaries during the tenure of former Chief Minister Raghubar Das and that keys had also been handed over. However, she alleged that the keys were later taken back by JNAC under unexplained circumstances, leaving the rehabilitation process incomplete.
Sahu further questioned why essential infrastructure, including electricity connections, had never been provided and why the structures had been allowed to deteriorate due to neglect. She alleged that attempts were made to divert the shops to influential but ineligible persons, resulting in disputes and delaying possession for the genuine beneficiaries.
The MLA stated that the upcoming review meeting would scrutinise the original records to identify the rightful claimants. She also proposed renovation of the deteriorated structures through JNAC funds so that eligible vendors can finally begin their businesses and secure sustainable livelihoods.
The issue has once again highlighted concerns over administrative accountability and the prolonged wait faced by displaced traders who continue to struggle for rehabilitation despite promises made years ago.