The Ranchi Municipal Corporation’s (RMC) plan to demolish Capital’s oldest health hub Sewa Sadan on alleged charges of violating building bylaws has heated up with State BJP unit president cum rajya Sabha MP Deepak Prakash , Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth and RMC Deputy Mayor Sanjeev Vijayvargiya jumping in defence of hospital. Seth, the BJP parliamentarian, termed the Civic body’s decision to demolish the health hub as ‘Tughlaqi’ farman.
Seth said that the Sewa Sadan at Upper Bazar is rendering medical service to people of Capital before the existence of Ranchi Municipal Corporation. He said that the Sewa Sadan is providing service to people especially those from middle and lower income groups at an affordable rate. He said, “In such a situation when the hospital is catering to the needs of poor and middle class society, the Government’s decision to demolish the hospital is against people’s sentiments.” The Ranchi MP also attacked the State government decision to demolish several houses and shops at Upper Bazar area, the biggest trade hub of the Capital.
He said, “These shops and houses existed for decades. These houses and shops have electricity bills and corporation fees receipts. Where were these corporation officials and staff when these buildings were coming up?” The Ranchi MP demanded action against such officials and staff of RMC for giving permission to construct such buildings.
BJP state president Deepak Prakash too said that the State government can regularize such buildings, which does not fulfill the criteria of RMC rather than demolishing hospitals which caters to the needs of poor people. He said that the staff and officials of RMC should act as per corporation law, but in this case it appears that RMC employees are working against people's sentiments on the direction of the State Government.
Echoing the views of Ranchi MP, RMC deputy Mayor Sanjeev Vijayvargiya said that Sewa Sadan is existing since 1960 when there was no agency to issue maps. He said, “As per my information building bylaws does not comply with buildings which were constructed before 1974 and in such a situation the decision to demolish Sewa Sadan is against the corporation law.”
Even the management of Sewa Sadan has opposed RMC’s plan to demolish the hospital. The Sewa Sadan on Wednesday organized a press conference where its president Arun Chauchariya opposed RMC’s plan to demolish the hospital. He said, “The hospital caters to the needs of poor people. With the demolition of a 200 bedded hospital, around 400 staff and 100 doctors will be financially affected.”
Meanwhile, RMC commissioner Mukesh Kumar today said that concession cannot be given to any illegal construction under Jharkhand Municipal Act and Building Bylaws. The Municipal Corporation will ensure that the Act is fully complied with. The Municipal Commissioner said that a campaign to make the city encroachment free is being carried out in collaboration with the district administration. He said that in this campaign, the Municipal Corporation is not fixing any specific building, but it is ensuring that the provisions mentioned in the Jharkhand Building Bylaws are properly complied with.
It is the responsibility of the Municipal Corporation that no illegal construction takes place in the city. He said that as per the order there is a plan to demolish 200 illegally constructed buildings within 15 days, the landlord should remove the illegal construction, otherwise the corporation will remove the illegal construction after 15 days and its cost will be recovered from the landlord.