Major Anti-Encroachment Drive at Bokaro Airport Site
In a significant operation on Saturday, Bokaro Steel Limited (BSL) management joined forces with the district administration to clear illegal encroachments surrounding the upcoming airport project. The large-scale demolition saw forty makeshift huts and commercial establishments being razed to the ground using excavators under tight security measures.
Heavy Security and Systematic Execution
The eviction drive was conducted with extensive precautions as drones monitored the area from above. Security personnel from four different police stations provided protection under the leadership of DSP City. Leading the operation from BSL's side were security in-charge Alok Chawla and estate officer P K Sinha from the BSL Estate Court.
Before proceeding with demolitions, the team thoroughly inspected each structure and announced repeated warnings through loudspeakers, urging residents and shopkeepers to voluntarily vacate the premises. The operation specifically targeted liquor shops and adjacent shanties that had encroached upon the airport's boundary, creating obstacles in the operational area.
Human Impact and Emotional Scenes
The demolition left many residents in distress, including Mohan Karmakar, who expressed his desperation: "Where will we go now during winter? I have three children and old parents." While meat shops near Sector-12 were temporarily spared, all shanties in the area were completely cleared.
A particularly sensitive situation arose when residents gathered at a house where a person had died just a day earlier due to health issues. The family requested officials to postpone demolition near their residence. Responding with compassion, the eviction team spared that particular house and continued with other structures.
However, this decision sparked anger among some residents, who carried the deceased's body to the main road and blocked traffic in protest. Police intervention became necessary to remove the body from the roadway and restore normal traffic flow while urging residents to maintain peace.
Legal Basis and Future Actions
Speaking to media representatives, Alok Chawla clarified that the eviction drive was being conducted following official orders from the BSL Estate Court. He stated, "These structures are illegal and pose obstacle to the airport's development. This drive will continue. We have received full cooperation from the district administration."
The legal foundation for this action dates back to October 10, when the BSL Estate Department issued formal notices to Sector-12 More shopkeepers. The notices provided a 15-day deadline for removing illegal constructions under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, specifically citing Sections 3 and 5A[1]. Despite repeated announcements and the expiration of the deadline, most encroachers had refused to vacate the premises voluntarily.
