Claim of ₹3.6 Crore Revenue Loss Due to Encroachment on 60,000 Sq. Ft. of Land at Pandara Market Committee
Former SDO Transferred Before Action Could Be Taken; Case Remains in Limbo
Ranchi: Questions have once again begun to surface regarding the encroachment on approximately 60,000 square feet of land within the Agricultural Produce Market Committee complex located in Pandara, Ranchi—the state capital. It is alleged that for years, prominent traders have occupied and conducted business on the Market Committee's land, resulting in a revenue loss amounting to crores of rupees for the government.
According to reports, the then Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Ranchi Sadar, Utkarsh Kumar, was apprised of this matter. Upon receiving the complaint, he expedited efforts to address the encroachment issue and initiated an investigation into the related matters. However, he was transferred before the enforcement action could be completed, following which the entire case was effectively shelved.
When a correspondent from *M Bharat 24 News LIVE* questioned the current Sadar SDO regarding the action being taken against this encroachment, he stated that he had been posted to the position only recently and did not possess full details of the case. When asked how long it would take to understand the matter and review the relevant files, he indicated that it would likely take approximately one month.
Discussions among locals and within business circles suggest that the administration does not appear to be taking this massive encroachment—situated in the very heart of the capital within the Market Committee complex—seriously. Residents allege that while the administration often takes action against small shopkeepers, pushcart vendors, and street hawkers to garner publicity, it appears to falter and hesitate when it comes to taking action against large-scale business owners.
It is reported that, based on the Market Committee's prescribed rates, if the value of this 60,000 square feet of encroached land is calculated, the government is incurring a revenue loss of approximately ₹3 lakh per month—totaling around ₹36 lakh annually. Furthermore, records indicate that orders to remove the encroachments were issued to the concerned shops and encroachers as early as 2017. Based on this premise, it is estimated that over the last ten years, the government has suffered a cumulative revenue loss of approximately ₹3.60 crore. Sources claim that preparations regarding this matter are underway behind the scenes at the administrative level, and major action could be initiated at any moment. On the other hand, however, an air of complacency is still evident among many traders. Some traders have even gone so far as to assert, "No one has the audacity to even touch our encroachments."
The question now arises: when will the administration finally take decisive action against these encroachments that have persisted for years, and what steps will be taken to compensate for the revenue losses amounting to crores of rupees?
