SCCI Meets Hemant Soren, Raises Dhalbhumgarh Airport and Industrial Issues

Chamber Urges CM to Fast-Track Six-Year-Pending Airport, Fix Jamshedpur Registry Freeze

Key Points:

• SCCI delegation meets CM Hemant Soren at new Jharkhand Assembly building in Ranchi
• Dhalbhumgarh Airport stalled for over six years; CM assures personal monitoring
• Property registry frozen for decade in Tata Steel command area, hits urban growth

RANCHI – A delegation of the Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry called on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren at the newly built state assembly building in Ranchi, raising key issues concerning industrial and urban development in the Kolhan region.

The delegation was led by SCCI president Manav Kedia. It included honorary general secretary Puneet Kauntia, vice presidents Rajeev Agarwal and Harsh Bankrewal, and secretaries Vinod Sharma and Anshul Ringasia.

The delegation travelled to the Jharkhand Assembly along with Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy. Members of the group also observed the assembly session proceedings live.

Four key issues were placed before the Chief Minister during the meeting. The foremost was the long-pending Dhalbhumgarh Airport project, stalled for over six years. The chamber requested its speedy execution, citing its potential to boost industrial, commercial and tourism development in the Kolhan region.

CM Hemant Soren assured the delegation he was personally monitoring the airport project’s progress. He said concrete advancement would be visible soon. The Dhalbhumgarh Airport has faced repeated delays over land disputes and forest clearance issues.

The second issue was the property registration freeze in Jamshedpur’s Tata Steel command area, suspended for nearly a decade. The delegation said this had severely hampered real estate, construction and urban development. It had also adversely affected commercial activity in the city.

The third issue concerned JIADA — the Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority — which currently lacks land acquisition powers. The chamber argued this prevented the creation of an industrial land bank. As a result, MSME sector industries face major hurdles in setting up units in the state.

The delegation cited examples from other states. Karnataka has KIADB, Maharashtra has MIDC, Uttar Pradesh has NOIDA and related authorities, and Rajasthan has RIICO. All of these bodies hold land acquisition powers. Similar authority for JIADA, the chamber said, would attract greater industrial investment to Jharkhand.

The fourth issue related to land records in Jugsalai, Mango and areas outside the Tata command zone. These records still carry the name of the Bihar government, a legacy of the state bifurcation of 2000. The delegation requested a comprehensive land survey to correct these outdated entries, which currently cause administrative and legal complications.

The delegation also met Chief Secretary Avinash Kumar, IAS, and discussed all four issues in detail. An additional concern raised before him was the shortage of commercial LPG supply in the Jamshedpur-Adityapur industrial belt, which has been causing difficulties for industries in the area.

At the assembly, the delegation met Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore, East Jamshedpur MLA Purnima Sahu, Baharagora MLA Sameer Mohanty and Ghatshila MLA Somes Soren.

SCCI president Kedia said all leaders and officials listened seriously to the issues raised. He said all gave positive assurances of action. “We are hopeful that early decisions on these matters will give new momentum to industrial and urban growth in Jamshedpur and Kolhan,” he said.