Jamshedpur Builders’ Association members outside the East Singhbhum deputy commissioner’s office. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, April 3: Concerned over the land crisis and increasing rate of residential flats, the building promoters operating in the steel city have sought relaxation in Jharkhand Apartment Act.

A delegation of prominent builders today went to the office of East Singhbhum deputy commissioner to request a review of the ground situation related to land crisis and apartment building construction activities in the city.

Since deputy commissioner Nitin Madan Kulkarni was in Ranchi, the builders resolved to take up the issue with the urban development ministry.

Among the builders present today were K.K. Singh, Arup Chatterjee, Ravindra Jha, Hare Ram Singh and Kaushal Singh.

Ravindra Jha told The Telegraph that the builders were passing through a difficult phase and the state government is doing nothing. If concrete steps are not taken in this regard, the builders would face the same consequence the Bihar State Housing Board had to face.

According to Jha, till October 2006, the building plan had to be approved by the notified area committees or municipal body in accordance with the Bihar Orissa Municipal Act.

But after the Jharkhand Apartment Act came into being in October 2006, the rules became more stringent which affected both buyers and the building promoters.

“Under the Bihar Orissa Municipal Act, a builder could construct 3,500sqft of floor area on a plot of 1,000sqft, but in the new Apartment Act, the builder can set up only 2,500sqft on the same area. As Jamshedpur is facing land crisis, the builders tend to make more and more floors on a plot of land,” said a builder.

Jha pointed out that as a result of a tough apartment act implemented in the state, the cost of apartments have gone up and lesser number of buyers are turning up.

The builders were critical of the district administration officials, who tend to intimidate them on the pretext of finding fault.

“As slightest deviation from the approved plan invites attention of notified area committee officials, we have to be cautious while going ahead with the construction process,” said a builders.

Jha said that as relaxation of the act is a concern of the state government, they would approach the urban development ministry and other concerned departments shortly.