JIADA Grapples with Land Scarcity in Key Districts
Bokaro: The Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority (JIADA) is confronting a severe shortage of land in the Bokaro, Dhanbad, and Giridih districts. This scarcity emerges at a critical time when the state government, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, is actively seeking to attract investors and accelerate industrial development. Soren had earlier visited the United Kingdom and Europe to court investments earlier this year.
Officials have indicated that there is virtually no existing land bank under the Bokaro region to meet the rising demand from entrepreneurs and industrial groups seeking plots for establishing manufacturing units and small industries. In response, authorities have begun exploring fresh land acquisition options while also pinning hopes on the proposed Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) project to address future industrial needs.
JIADA Managing Director Varun Ranjan stated that efforts are underway to identify additional land parcels in various districts under the Bokaro region. “At present, JIADA is searching for chunks of land measuring around 30 to 35 acres for expansion purposes. Regional offices have been directed to identify such land parcels. Besides this, we are also looking at the Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor project proposed in the Bathua area under Chas block of Bokaro district. The integrated manufacturing cluster under the project will help meet future land requirements of investors and entrepreneurs,” Ranjan said.
The proposed AKIC is expected to be developed on over 740 acres near the Damodar river in Bokaro. Officials believe that the manufacturing cluster under the corridor could significantly ease the pressure on industrial land demand.
Current Industrial Land Holdings and Utilization
Originally established in 1974 as the Bokaro Industrial Area Development Authority, JIADA’s Bokaro regional office manages nearly 1,531 acres of industrial land spread across Bokaro, Dhanbad, and Giridih districts. Over the years, more than 660 industrial and MSME units have been allotted plots in these industrial zones.
The largest cluster is the Balidih Industrial Area in Bokaro, which covers around 1,234.45 acres and houses about 450 industries. JIADA also manages 134.58 acres in Kandra Industrial Area with around 79 industries, and 55 acres in Sindri Industrial Area with 42 industries, both located in Dhanbad. In Giridih Industrial Area, JIADA oversees 46.56 acres with 34 industries.
However, a significant number of these industries are either non-functional, shut down, or still under construction. According to official figures, out of the 660 allotted units, only about 417 are operational. Approximately 87 plots have been cancelled by JIADA due to non-compliance with development norms, while nearly 50 units have closed operations.
Strategies to Overcome the Land Crisis
Between 2021 and 2024, JIADA adopted a two-pronged strategy to tackle the land crisis and revive industrial growth. It sought government land through district authorities, but most parcels offered were only 5 to 10 acres in size, which proved too small for major projects. Additionally, it cancelled allotments of non-functional and undeveloped plots, several of which were later re-allotted to new companies.
These measures, combined with the anticipated benefits from the AKIC project, are expected to provide much-needed relief and support the state’s industrial ambitions.
