The anti-encroachment drive in progress at Marine Drive in Jamshedpur on Saturday. Picture by Animesh Sengupta

Jamshedpur, July 23: More than 400 houses were demolished in the first phase of the anti-encroachment drive on Marine Drive that ended today, paving the way for building a 4km-long approach road to the Adityapur toll bridge.

The process of removing the encroachments in compliance with a Jharkhand High Court order was interrupted several times. The operation was halted on May 29 and resumed after the Jamshedpur bypoll on July 15. Work stopped on July 17 for the inauguration of the toll bridge, on July 19 due to the teachers’ eligibility test and on July 21 because of heavy rains.

Sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Dhalbhum Subodh Kumar said the first phase of the eviction drive covered slums like Bag-E-Basti, Green Park Basti, Ramnagar, Shyam Nagar, Har Godam and Rup Nagar.

“We are unable able to give the actual figures, but over 410 houses were demolished in the drive. In such slums built on encroached land, more than two families stay in single house. Every family has entered its names on the list of displaced, which is creating confusion. We will sort out the issue after verifying land records of Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee,” he said.

He added that rehabilitation schemes would be extended to the “genuinely displaced” who fulfiled the criterion laid out in the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

“The special officer of Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (the urban local body responsible for the areas in question) has been asked to check the list of affected persons in association with the circle officer of Jamshedpur. After verification we would be making the list of those persons who can avail rehabilitation benefits under JNNURM,” the SDO said.

However, the administration remained silent on when the anti-encroachment drive would resume in the densely populated and “volatile” Ramjanamnagar area.

Interestingly, it was the anti-encroachment drive in Ramjanamnagar that triggered violent protests followed by police lathicharge on March 21.

Executive magistrate Sunil Kumar Sinha preferred to play safe when queried on the subject.

“We have completed the first phase of the encroachment drive and the authorities (Jusco) would be asked to construct roads on the areas cleared so far. We would be announcing the next phase of the encroachment drive in due course,” he said.