No house will be demolished: Dr. Ajoy Kumar’s assurance to Jamshedpur residents

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, August 21: Former MP and senior Congress leader Dr. Ajoy Kumar met 150 families living along the banks of the Swarnarekha River in Bhuinyadih, including residents of Kalyan Nagar, Radhika Nagar and Chhaya Nagar on Wednesday. He informed them about the ongoing efforts to protect their homes and assured them that not a single house would be demolished.

Dr. Ajoy Kumar emphasized that this fight was now collective and assured that as long as the INDI Alliance government was in power, their homes would be safe. He also stated that a petition has been filed in the Ranchi High Court, and on August 23, senior Supreme Court advocate Sandeep Banerjee would present their case before the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Dr. Ajoy Kumar assured the residents that he would personally cover all legal expenses. Attorney General Rajiv Ranjan has assured that the government would defend the residents’ homes in the NGT.

Dr. Ajoy Kumar has been proactive in this matter, having first written to the Chief Minister on July 13, urging action. A petition was also filed in the Ranchi High Court against the NGT’s notice. Supreme Court advocate Sandeep Banerjee had agreed to take on the case at Dr. Kumar’s behest. Dr. Ajoy Kumar is deeply committed to this cause and continues to work tirelessly.

This program was organized by Youth Congress State General Secretary Rakesh Sahu. Key participants included Niranjan Prasad, President of Basti Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, and several other local leaders and residents.

Vakalatnama in house demolition case sent to NGT advocates

Santosh Gupta, President of the Indranagar-Kalyan Nagar Basti Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, which was formed to oppose the demolition of 150 houses, has sent a Vakalatnama (legal authorization) to the advocates representing the case in the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The Vakalatnama authorizes NGT advocates Manasi Bachani, Isha Krishna, Dr. BP Neelratna, Soumitra Jaiswal, Shubham Upadhyay, Geetanjali Sanyal and Surya Gupta to represent the slum dwellers.

The legal step followed a recent meeting between Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy and Senior Advocate Sanjay Upadhyay in Delhi, where it was discussed that a Vakalatnama would be required to proceed with the case. The Vakalatnama has now been sent in preparation for the hearing scheduled in the NGT on August 23.

The case involved the Jamshedpur Local Planning Authority (JPLA) notice issued by the Circle Office to demolish over 150 houses in the areas of Kalyan Nagar, Indira Nagar, and Chhaya Nagar in Bhuinyadih. The notice, dated July 6, directed residents to vacate their homes within 14 days and respond by July 20, explaining why their houses should not be demolished.

The demolition orders were based on a joint survey conducted by the Water Resources Department, Mango Municipal Corporation, Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee, and the District Administration, following instructions from the National Green Tribunal. MLA Saryu Roy has assured the residents that he would not allow their houses to be demolished.