RANCHI: The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has launched a city-wide initiative to address the illegal operation of commercial establishments within residential properties in Jharkhand State Housing Board (JSHB) colonies. This includes door-to-door surveys and the cancellation of trade licenses, following directives related to Supreme Court land use regulations.
Eight enforcement teams have been assigned to inspect areas such as Harmu, Bariatu, and Argora, where significant illegal commercial activities have been reported, despite land allotment norms favoring residential use. Officials confirmed that this enforcement drive commenced this week and will be executed in phases.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner Gautam Prasad Sahu stated, “Our teams have been active since Monday. We are cancelling trade licenses in Harmu and Bariatu following communication from the housing board. Initially, 49 establishments were issued notices, with another 20-25 following on Tuesday.”
JSHB secretary Binay Lakra emphasized, “All these properties were designated for residential use and cannot operate as commercial entities. We have formally requested the RMC to revoke these trade licenses.”
Rajesh Kumar, Executive Engineer of JSHB Ranchi division, noted that the board oversees three colonies: Harmu, Bariatu, and Argora. “Harmu consists of over 1,000 properties—including flats and single-story units—Bariatu has around 500, and Argora has nearly 200. These were allocated under various housing schemes,” he explained.
Despite this, numerous properties engage in commercial activities. In Harmu, particularly near Sahjanand Chowk and along the route to Argora, several homes have been repurposed into playschools, clinics, diagnostic centers, and markets. Notices have also been issued to a property associated with a cricketer that operates as a diagnostic center, but no response has been received yet, according to officials. Similar trends can be observed in Bariatu, where pharmacies and private clinics have become prevalent within residential areas.
JSHB Chairman Sanjay Lal Paswan stated, “Residential colonies cannot be allowed to transform into commercial hubs against regulatory norms, which disrupts civic planning and infrastructure.”
