Illegal constructions being removed from the quarters occupied by Israil Ansari in Bokaro on Saturday. Picture by Pankaj Singh Bokaro, July 16: Bokaro Steel’s eviction orders against VVIP squatters finally stirred the Sorens today with deputy chief minister Hemant beginning to dismantle illegal structures erected in front of the house in his possession, while his brother Basant gave up the keys to the premises he had been using for years.
Among others who also took some action today were Chandankyari MLA and Ajsu leader Umakant Rajak and former Bokaro MLA Israil Ansari of the Congress. In the afternoon, Rajak directed some labourers to remove the illegal constructions carried out at his Sector IX quarter, while Ansari dismantled the illegal additions from the Sector III house in his possession.
There was no word from former BJP MLA Yogeshwar Batul and Vishrampur MLA Chandrashekhar Dubey, who are also occupying quarters illegally.
Since noon, workers were seen tearing off the asbestos roof of an iron and steel framed structure erected by the Sorens in front of quarter no 3030 which has been in their possession for years. The structure was being used to host partymen, mostly JMM leaders and cadres, who mill around the house of their chieftain Shibu Soren and his sons. Basant handed over the keys to quarter no 3029, which is the floor above 3030.
Hemant, Basant, Rajak and Ansari are among the 14 politicians identified as squatters in an advertisement published by Bokaro steel on July 5. Though the advertisement was published in compliance with a high court order on vacating illegally occupied PSU land and homes, the steel plant authorities today insisted that the notice only mentioned removal of encroachments from in front of some of the quarters held by influential names, including Hemant.
However, on March 18, an advertisement published by the plant authorities had mentioned Rajak and Hemant, along with 12 others, as illegal encroachers. On July 9, Bokaro Steel chief of communications Sanjay Tewary had told The Telegraph that the 14 VVIP squatters were refusing to move out even though the deadline mentioned in a July 5 advertisement had lapsed. But today the officials said while 12 of the squatters, including Basant, were required to vacate the premises, Hemant and Rajak only needed to remove the illegal constructions from the premises occupied by them and that the July 5 advertisement said so.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Rajak said he was abiding by high court orders by removing the illegal constructions. When questioned why he had not done so earlier, the legislator said he had been busy and wanted to supervise the encroachment removal personally.
On June 4, Jharkhand High Court had directed the CBI to investigate and furnish names of persons who were in unauthorised possession of PSU plots and quarters.
The court was hearing a PIL on encroachments at HEC, Bokaro Steel, CCL and BCCL, and was informed by the CBI that crores were being spent to maintain the illegally occupied quarters.
The court had also directed the government and the PSUs to ensure that the encroachment drive continued on their respective premises.
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