Raghubar demands immediate ban on enhanced shop rent in Jamshedpur

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, June 17:  Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and BJP national Vice President Raghubar Das demanded an immediate rollback on shop rents imposed by Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) on shopkeepers at all market places in the city. He has urged the government to find a suitable solution to the sudden rent hike imposed by JNAC after Tata Steel management handed over the authority to this body.

Expressing the disappointment and anger of shopkeepers Raghubar Das said, “Bills are being sent to shopkeepers for rent amounts that are 700 percent higher than what was charged earlier. Till yesterday, a shopkeeper who paid Rs 24 as rent, now received a JNAC rent bill amounting to Rs 16,048. This means that a shop having  an area of 20 square feet has been charged @ Rs 80 per square feet area. Shops whose earlier rent was Rs 250 are being sent rent bills by JNAC amounting to Rs 50,000. This is simply unfair and uncalled for.”

Raghubar Das appealed to all shopkeepers’ associations to jointly hold discussions on the enhanced rent issue and place the matter before the Deputy Commissioner. He demanded from the government that the new rent imposed on shopkeepers was absolutely unfair and should be immediately revoked. He advised that a tripartite committee be constituted to resolve the volatile rent issue. Representatives from shopkeepers’ associations, officials of JNAC and the district administration should be included in the tripartite committee.

Protest against water connection fee

Former Chief Minister Raghubar Das came out strongly against charging fees from Jamshedpur citizens for new water connections. He questioned that when there was a provision in the state for providing free water connections, why were Jamshedpur residents being charged for new water connections. He urged the government to abolish the new water connection fee imposed on Jamshedpur residents.