KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, December 28: As the East Singhbhum district administration remains busy preparing for President Droupadi Murmu’s programme in suburban Parsudih on Monday, an attempt has allegedly been made to encroach upon prime Khaasmahal land in the area, amid severe land scarcity in Jamshedpur.
According to sources, an unscrupulous builder, or persons associated with a Sundernagar-based English-medium private school, has begun fencing a vacant plot at Khaasmahal by fixing iron pillars, raising questions over administrative vigilance.
Fencing Work Raises Suspicion
The land is reportedly being encroached upon from two sides at a rapid pace, suggesting that the move may have been planned, keeping the President’s visit in view, when administrative attention is focused elsewhere.
Spread over nearly three acres, the vacant Khaasmahal land has long been used by local residents for multiple purposes, including as a playground.
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Residents Raise Alarm
When fencing work began about four days ago, local residents raised an alarm and eventually brought the matter to the notice of the Circle Officer (CO), Jamshedpur.
Administration Responds
Circle Officer Manoj Kumar, the custodian of government land in the area, confirmed that an attempt had been made to encroach upon the land.
“After receiving information about the attempted encroachment at Khaasmahal, we removed the iron pillars from the site two days ago. However, I have now come to know that the pillars are being fixed again,” Kumar told The Jharkhand Story.
He added that all pillars would be dismantled and removed once the President’s visit is over.
Questions Over Official Backing
The CO, however, did not disclose who was behind the encroachment attempt, citing engagement with Presidential visit preparations.
A local resident alleged that the illegal act could not have been carried out without tacit support from the authorities.
“The encroacher would not have dared to grab prime government land without a green signal from the local Parsudih police station and possibly the Circle Office,” the resident claimed.
President’s Schedule in Jamshedpur
President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to attend the convocation ceremony at NIT Jamshedpur in Adityapur on Monday. Prior to that, she is also expected to participate in a programme at a Jaherastan in Karandih, Parsudih.
