Ramgarh Administration to Demolish 254 Unauthorized Shops at Rajrappa Temple
In a significant move to reclaim illegally occupied land, the Ramgarh district administration in Jharkhand has announced the demolition of 254 unauthorized shops located on the premises of the historic Rajrappa temple. The eviction drive is scheduled to commence on April 15, following a week-long notice period that expires on April 14.
Administration's Eviction Notice and Timeline
The Chitarpur circle office had initially issued notices to the traders on March 25, directing them to vacate the land within a week. Ramgarh Deputy Commissioner Faiz Aq Ahmad Mumtaz confirmed the administration's stance, stating, "After serving eviction notices to 254 shop owners on the Rajrappa temple premises, we have given them time till April 14 to vacate the land. The administration will start the eviction drive on April 15 if the land is not vacated by then."
Beautification Plan and High Court Intervention
This action is part of a broader beautification plan for the Rajrappa temple premises, aimed at providing better amenities to devotees. An official explained that the illegally occupied land must be vacated to facilitate these improvements. The initiative gained momentum after the Jharkhand High Court intervened in response to a petition alleging non-compliance with earlier court orders.
On April 1, a bench comprising Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Sanjay Prasad directed Tourism Secretary Mukesh Kumar and Deputy Commissioner Faiz Aq Ahmad Mumtaz to conduct a survey of the Chhinnamastika temple in Ramgarh and submit a beautification proposal to the court.
On-Ground Inspections and Shopkeepers' Demands
Following the High Court order, a team including Deputy Commissioner Faiz Aq Ahmad, Sub-Divisional Officer Anurag Kumar Tiwari, Chitarpur Circle Officer, and Officer-in-Charge of Rajrappa Police Station Krishna Kumar inspected the temple premises on April 2. They held meetings with the Rajrappa Mandir Nyas Sammittee to discuss the eviction process.
Shopkeepers have raised concerns, demanding rehabilitation before the eviction drive. Many traders belong to adjoining villages and have been providing essential goods and services to devotees for decades. Dilip Kumar Sao, who runs a hotel established by his father 70 years ago, highlighted that shopkeepers had deposited Rs 1,000 to authorities in 1996 for shops in a shopping complex developed by the administration, underscoring their long-standing presence.
Broader Tourism Development Context
The Rajrappa temple is one of five popular tourist destinations being developed by the state tourism department. This list includes:
- Baidyanath Dham temple in Deoghar
- Parasnath hills in Giridih
- Bhadrakali temple in Itkhori of Chatra district
- Anjan Dham in Gumla district
- Patratu Lake Resort and Rajrappa temple in Ramgarh district
An official noted that this development aims to enhance tourism infrastructure across Jharkhand, with the Rajrappa temple project being a key component. The demolition of unauthorized shops is seen as a crucial step in this beautification effort, ensuring the temple complex can be transformed to better serve visitors and uphold legal and aesthetic standards.
