Ranchi: In a massive administrative crackdown that has sent shockwaves through public housing projects in Jharkhand's capital, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has taken a stringent stance against the misuse of welfare infrastructure. The urban local body has officially served legal notices to 232 beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for violating the core foundational guidelines of the central housing scheme. The affected allottees are accused of illegally sub-letting their residential units to third-party tenants for commercial gain, directly undermining the social security objectives designed to provide affordable roofs to economically weaker sections.Violating Clause 16: The Lighthouse Project Investigation at DhurwaThe structural audit and subsequent disclosure target the recently developed Lighthouse Project residential complex located in the Dhurwa locality, which was constructed under the third component of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). Following a series of secret public complaints, RMC officials launched a preliminary field investigation into the high-rise residential complex. The surprise inspections revealed that a massive number of original beneficiaries were not residing in their designated flats, having shifted elsewhere while collecting monthly rent from unauthorized occupants. The corporation has categorized this practice as a direct violation of Clause 16 of the PMAY (Urban) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which strictly prohibits the commercial renting or secondary leasing of any state-subsidized asset.24-Hour Ultimatum: Submit Physical Proof of Residence Or Face CancellationEscalating the legal process, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation has issued a strict timeline for the implicated beneficiaries to present their defense. The allottees have been ordered to physically present concrete, verifiable proof of their day-to-day residence at the Dhurwa complex to the corporation's monitoring cell within a tight 24-hour window. RMC authorities have made it explicitly clear that a failure to submit satisfactory documentary evidence or an complete absence of response within the next 24 hours will lead to the immediate termination of the property lease and the swift cancellation of the housing allotment without further notice.Trade Licenses Blocked: Unlicensed Commercial Establishments Shut DownParallel to the housing audit, the municipal corporation's enforcement wing aggressively inspected commercial zones along Harmu Road to verify tax and licensing compliances. During the daytime inspections, two prominent local retail outlets—Anna Fast Food and Payal Collection—were caught operating without possessing valid municipal trade licenses. RMC enforcement officers shuttered both commercial establishments with immediate effect, halting all operations until proper penalties are cleared and registration protocols are satisfied. Additionally, the inspection team uncovered a structural violation at the Damro Furniture building, where the designated basement parking zone was being utilized as a commercial warehouse. A strict mandate was issued to the building management to dismantle the storage setup within 24 hours and restore vehicle parking spaces to avoid heavy structural fines.Bulldozers On Harmu Road: RMC Launches Massive Anti-Encroachment DriveTo decongest urban choke points and optimize arterial traffic flow before the high-intensity monsoon rains hit the state, the RMC enforcement squad deployed heavy earthmoving machinery for a large-scale anti-encroachment drive in the Harmu Road sector. The specialized task force cleared illegal extensions, temporary stairs, and extended structures constructed over public drains and pedestrian walkways. Legal notices were immediately pasted onto 12 corporate buildings, commercial institutions, and retail shops for violating boundary setbacks and encroaching onto dedicated gift-deed public lands. Notably, a prominent commercial tea stall operating illegally on the gift-deed layout of the landmark Pentagon Building was served an eviction notice for immediate demolition, while the structural enforcement team successfully cleared public walkways in front of nearly 20 active shops.
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