Bokaro MLA demands CBI inquiry in 'illegal' encroachments

Bokaro: A day after a scuffle with an AGM of Bokaro Steel Limited ( BSL ), Bokaro’s BJP MLA Biranchi Narayan on Wednesday further criticised the public sector undertaking (PSU), accusing some of its officials of running an organised encroachment scam in its township. He claimed it is causing the state exchequer a loss of Rs 400 crore annually and demanded a CBI inquiry to burst the racket.

“I will personally raise the whole matter before the Union steel ministry,” said the MLA addressing a press conference on Wednesday.

He added, “As many as 4,000 BSL quarters in its township are under illegal possession, courtesy a gang of BSL officers headed by its general manager Bibhakar Singh in connivance with local ‘gundas’ and ‘dalals’.”

He further alleged, “Rs 3,000 rent is fixed for E Type (2 rooms) quarter and Rs 5,000 for D Type (three room). BSL is losing Rs 32 crore monthly and about Rs 450 crores annually due to such illegal business. Of the total 40,000 quarters BSL has, 22,000 are genuine occupants. Let the company explain the status of remaining quarters.”

The MLA also read out a list of quarters that are allegedly illegally occupied in Sector 1/C. He also demanded BSL and SAIL to return 34,000 acres of unused chunks of acquired lands to displaced persons.

BSL’s chief of communication Manikant Dhan refused to comment on the matter.

On Tuesday, Narayan and his men allegedly assaulted an AGM of BSL’s land allotment department, Ajit Kumar, when he reportedly objected to an ongoing construction work of a pond and a park in Sector-1/C, stating that the company hasn’t allotted any land for this project, which was being done through MLA-LAD funds. Kumar is currently admitted in ICU at Bokaro General Hospital.

Regarding Tuesday’s incident, Narayan said that he was being defamed by the officer concerned. “I will file a defamation suit of Rs 2 crore,” he said.

On the other hand, both JMM and Congress condemned Bokaro MLA’s actions. JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharjee said, “We want to know BJP and CM’s stand on their MLA’s action. We will raise this matter during the monsoon session to question CM Raghubar Das whether he will take action or not.”

Congress spokesperson Rajesh Thakur termed the action as BJP’s real identity.