Crackdown on illegal businesses: Ranchi Municipal Corporation targets illegal commercial enterprises in residential areas; trade licences under review in housing colonies

Ranchi: The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has initiated a city-wide crackdown on commercial establishments operating illegally out of residential properties in Jharkhand State Housing Board (JSHB) colonies, with door-to-door surveys and cancellation of trade licences underway, officials said. The action was taken on the basis of directions linked to Supreme Court norms on land use.

Eight enforcement teams have been deployed to survey areas such as Harmu and Bariatu housing colonies and Argora, where rampant large-scale illegal commercialisation has been reported despite residential land allotment norms. Officials said the drive began this week and will continue in phases.

Deputy municipal commissioner Gautam Prasad Sahu said, “Our teams are on the field from Monday. We are cancelling trade licences in Harmu and Bariatu housing colonies after receiving a communication from the housing board. On Monday, 49 establishments were served notices, and on Tuesday, around 20-25 more notices were issued.”

Board secretary Binay Lakra said, “All these properties were allotted and acquired for residential use. They are not commercial entities, so business establishments cannot be permitted. We have formally requested the RMC to cancel such trade licences.”

JSHB Ranchi division’s executive engineer Rajesh Kumar said the board regulates three colonies: Harmu, Bariatu and Argora. “Harmu has over 1,000 properties, including flats, plots and single-storey units. Bariatu has around 500, while Argora has nearly 200. These were allotted under various schemes such as Janta flats (G+3 units) and housing for higher income groups,” he said

However, there are several properties with commercial activities. In Harmu, particularly near Sahjanand Chowk and along the road towards Argora, several residences have been converted into playschools, clinics, diagnostic centres and market complexes. A property linked to a cricketer, operating as a diagnostic centre, has also been served notices earlier, but no response has been received yet, officials said. Similar patterns are visible in Bariatu, where pharmacies and private clinics have proliferated in residential pockets.

JSHB chairman Sanjay Lal Paswan said, “Residential colonies cannot be allowed to turn into commercial hubs in violation of norms. This disturbs civic planning and infrastructure.”