Food, Civil Supplies and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Roy has yet again stressed on resolving the logjam over restructuring of urban local bodies in Jamshedpur which is pending since long. On the sidelines of a programme on Thursday, he said that some proactive measures from the government to get the issue resolved outside the court was more a desirable idea than to wait for Supreme Court’s final verdict on the whole issue.
“I do believe that we should wait for final verdict of the Supreme Court in the matter. However, I also believe that it would be far better if there was a concerted effort from the government to speak to Tata Steel officials to withdraw their petition from the apex court, so that the sufferings of our own citizens could be brought to an end,” said Roy.
In a letter written to the Urban Development Department Minister CP Singh in mid-July this year, Roy came up with all the problems in the region and the best possible solutions of the matter at length. He said that he had words with him about the same even today. “Tata Steel has failed miserably to stand on its own promises regarding providing civic amenities to people living in Jamshedpur NAC. The company is concerned only with the residents living under its catchment areas, but we can’t leave our own people to suffer for a long time,” said Roy.
Urban Development Minister CP Singh, on the other hand, said that the government was waiting for the verdict of the Apex Court, which was not there to be asked for a speedy disposal of the case. “The matter is in the court and we are waiting for their verdict. However, we are also working on other alternatives so that the matter could be resolved outside the court,” claimed Singh. A senior official of the department also said that the matter was under consideration for a speedy resolution. “However, it is sub-judice at the moment, and better I don’t comment on it,” said the official seeking anonymity.
The State government in year 2006 had came up with a notification announcing formation of Jamshedpur Municipal Corporation (JMC) by merging existing Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (NAC), Mango NAC and Jugsalai Municipal Council. The Bill regarding this was also passed by Jharkhand Assembly.
However, Tata Steel went to Jharkhand High Court to file a petition against government’s notification of possible emergence of JMC in such a way with some objections from it, only to get the petition rejected from court. Tata Steel moved to the Supreme Court against rejection decision of its petition in High Court, where both the parties, Tata Steel and government, were said to maintain status-quo until a deliverance of the final verdict from there. Nine years since then, the petition of Tata Steel has remained pending in the apex court from year 2007.
According to Roy, Municipal Corporation status to Mango and bifurcation of Jamshedpur NAC in JMC and Jamshedpur Industrial Town in a proper way would ensure availability of improved amenities in the entire region.
At present, residents of Tata Steel command areas have been enjoying one of the best civic amenities including uninterrupted power and water supply, something that most of the civic bodies not only in state, but across the country dream to attain.