P&M Mall Jamshedpur asked to Deposit ₹1.68 Crore Labour Cess

Jamshedpur: The Labour Department has directed the management of P&M Hi-Tech City Centre Mall, Bistupur, to deposit outstanding labour cess amounting to ₹1,68,85,347. The order, issued by Satyendra Singh, Labour Superintendent-II and Cess Assessment Officer, mandates that the amount be deposited into the Jharkhand Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Fund within 30 days.

The department has also instructed the mall management to submit the original deposit receipt to its office after payment. It warned that failure to comply within the stipulated timeframe would attract additional interest at the rate of 2 percent per month, as per provisions under the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Cess Act, 1996.

Responding to the development, an official associated with the mall management, stated that they have not yet received any formal notice from the Labour Department regarding the dues.

Basis of Assessment

According to officials, the cess has been levied under provisions of the Act, which mandates that 1 percent of the total construction cost of major projects be deposited towards workers’ welfare. The Labour Department assessed the mall’s built-up area at approximately 6 lakh square feet.

Officials further stated that despite repeated correspondence seeking construction-related details, the management failed to furnish accurate information. As a result, the cess liability was calculated based on available government records.

The issue came into focus following a complaint filed by Rajiv Pandey, General Secretary of the Johar Jharkhand Shramik Mahasangh, prompting the department to initiate action.