Bokaro: The Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority (JIADA) is facing a shortage of land in Bokaro, Dhanbad and Giridih districts, at a time when the state government is trying to attract investors and accelerate industrial development. CM Hemant Soren had visited the UK and Europe to attract investments earlier this year.Officials said there is virtually no existing land bank under the Bokaro region to meet the rising demand from entrepreneurs and industrial groups seeking plots for setting up manufacturing units and small industries. 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 said that efforts are underway to identify additional land parcels in different districts under 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 come up on over 740 acres near the Damodar river in Bokaro. Officials said the manufacturing cluster under the corridor could significantly ease pressure on industrial land demand.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. More than 660 industrial and MSME units have been allotted plots in these industrial zones over the years.The largest cluster is the Balidih Industrial Area in Bokaro, which covers around 1,234.45 acres and has 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 in Dhanbad. In Giridih Industrial Area, JIADA oversees 46.56 acres with 34 industries.However, many industries are either non-functional, shut down or still under construction. According to official figures, out of the 660 allotted units, about 417 are operational. Around 87 plots have been canceled by JIADA due to non-compliance with development norms, while nearly 50 units have closed operations.Between 2021 and 2024, JIADA adopted a two-pronged strategy to tackle the land crisis and revive industrial growth. It sought govt land through district authorities, but most parcels offered were only 5 to 10 acres in size, too small for major projects. It also canceled allotments of non-functional and undeveloped plots, several of which were later re-allotted to new companies.
