UditVani, Jamshedpur: A delegation of the Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Saturday met Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren at the newly built Jharkhand Assembly complex in Ranchi and placed before him several key issues related to industrial growth and urban development in the Kolhan region.
The delegation, led by SCCI president Manav Kedia, included honorary general secretary Puneet Kauntia, vice-president (Tax & Finance) Rajeev Agarwal, vice-president (Industry) Harsh Bankrewal, secretary (Industry) Vinod Sharma, and secretary (Tax & Finance) Anshul Ringasia.
They were accompanied by Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy during their visit to the Assembly, where they also witnessed the proceedings of the House.
During the meeting with the Chief Minister, the delegation raised four major issues concerning the region’s economic and infrastructural development.
The foremost issue discussed was the long-pending Dhalbhumgarh Airport project, which has remained stalled for over six years.
The trade body urged the state government to expedite the project, stating that the airport would significantly boost industrial activity, trade, and tourism in Kolhan.
The Chief Minister assured the delegation that he is personally monitoring the project and that tangible progress is expected soon.
Another major concern raised was the suspension of property registration in areas under Tata Steel’s command area in Jamshedpur for nearly a decade.
According to the chamber, the halt in registrations has severely affected the city’s real estate sector, construction activities, and overall urban expansion, thereby slowing economic growth.
The delegation requested government intervention to resolve the issue at the earliest.
SCCI delegation also proposed that the Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority (JIADA) be granted powers to acquire land, similar to industrial development agencies in other states.
It cited examples such as the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), NOIDA, Greater NOIDA, Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority, and RIICO in Rajasthan, which have land acquisition powers and actively develop industrial zones.
Granting similar authority to JIADA, the delegation said, would help build a land bank and facilitate the establishment of MSME industries in Jharkhand.
Another issue highlighted was the presence of outdated land records in areas such as Jugsalai, Mango, and other localities outside the Tata command area, where land documents still list “Government of Bihar” as the owner.
The chamber urged the government to undertake a comprehensive land survey and update records to prevent administrative and legal complications.
The delegation also met the state Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari and discussed the same issues in detail.
During the interaction, they additionally raised concerns about the shortage of commercial LPG supply in the Jamshedpur–Adityapur industrial belt, which has been causing operational difficulties for several industries.
During their visit to the Assembly, the delegation also met Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore, Jamshedpur East MLA Purnima Sahu, Baharagora MLA Sameer Mohanty, and Ghatshila MLA Somesh Soren.
SCCI president Manav Kedia later stated that the Chief Minister and other public representatives listened to the issues with seriousness and assured positive steps toward resolving them.
He expressed hope that early decisions on these matters would accelerate industrial, commercial, and urban development in Jamshedpur and Kolhan region.
