In a three-hour long operation, one of city’s oldest landmarks — Aambagan ground in the heart of the city at Sakchi — was cleared of encroachment. The operation was carried out jointly by district administration and Tata Steel subsidiary Jusco.
led by Dhalbhum SDO Suraj Kumar along with Jusco general manager Dhananjay Mishra and Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) special officer Deepak Sahay the drive started at 12 noon and towed away nearly 20 SUVs and cars to the Sakchi police station while prosecution slips were pasted on over 15 vehicles including two long distance buses.
Around 200 police personnel from district police and Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP-6) were deployed during the drive.
JNAC special officer Deepak Sahay said fines of `20,000 were issued from each of the vehicles found in the ground while those vehicles which were towed away will be released after checking all the documents and payment of fines on PR (personal recognizance) bond.
Jusco general manager Dhananjay Mishra said they would now embark on a plan for converting Aambagan ground into a state-of-the art park.
The around witnesses six to seven fairs and exhibitions apart from political rallies and meetings also hosts one of the most popular Durga Puja hosted by Jamshedpur Sarbojanin Durga Puja committee. Aambagan ground was finally cleared of encroachment after over three-hours operation.
“We had carried a survey of the site and find that lack of a boundary wall made the grounds a free-for-all for shopkeepers, hotels and contractors to through wastes, leftover food. We are facing opposition from a local mosque committee for construction of boundary walls on southern side as they feel it would create obstacle in their prayers. Since boundary wall has not been fully constructed vehicles repairing and parking have started again,” said an official of Jusco.
The increasing encroachment on the Government and Tata Steel lease land area particularly on busy market areas has become a matter of concern. Even the roads are squeezing day by day because of encroachments thus making difficult to drive the vehicles.
The beautification work of Aambagan ground is on the cards. The work will commence soon. As per the plans Jusco will remove encroachment from the four-acre plot and start the revival work of the ground before Durga Puja.
Apart from Jusco a city-based NGO Subhas Sanskriti Parishad with support of Jamshedpur West MlA and senior BJP leader Saryu Roy had met the East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amitabh Kaushal recently at district collectorate requesting for making the ground free from encroachers.