Jamshedpur, Sept 25: A delegation of the Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries, led by its president Tulsi Patel, on Friday met Urban Development Department Secretary Sunil Kumar and raised issues related to utility connections in the Tata Command Area, the long-pending rent dispute at Bazar Tand and the delay in starting operations at Transport Nagar.
The delegation said several completed and usable buildings in the Tata Command Area were unable to obtain electricity and drinking water connections due to the absence of occupancy certificates.
The Chamber said the requirement was also creating difficulties for owners of older buildings seeking electricity load enhancement, new connections and other routine utility services.
“Building regulations and safety standards must be followed, but valid and usable buildings should not be unnecessarily deprived of basic facilities such as electricity and drinking water,” Patel said.
He sought a clear and simplified mechanism under which usable buildings could receive basic utility services after the required inspections and formalities.
Regional Vice President of the Kolhan Division Vijay Anand Munka said the issue had been affecting businesses and residents for a long time.
“Making occupancy certificates mandatory even for electricity load enhancement or routine utility-related work in older buildings is creating unnecessary procedural complications,” he said, urging the department to issue clear guidelines.
Chamber General Secretary Rohit Agrawal suggested that the requirement of occupancy certificates for electricity load enhancement, new connections and other routine utility-related work in old and existing buildings be examined from a practical perspective.
The delegation also raised the delay in starting operations at Transport Nagar. Chamber Vice President Vikas Vijayvargiya urged the authorities to hand over the facility to transporters at the earliest and commence operations.
Joint Secretaries Amit Sharma and Pooja Dhadha sought an extension of the period for the building regularisation scheme.
On the Bazar Tand rent dispute, Patel proposed a coordination committee comprising representatives of the Urban Development Department, Jharkhand Chamber and the Municipal Commissioner to work towards a permanent solution.
“The Bazar Tand rent dispute has been pending for years and needs to be resolved at the earliest,” Patel said.
Urban Development Department Secretary Sunil Kumar assured the delegation that appropriate action would be taken on the suggestions put forward by the Chamber.
The delegation included Patel, Vijayvargiya, Munka, Agrawal, Sharma and Dhadha, among others.
