Bokaro: The simmering dispute over BSL’s dilapidated Sector-12 quarters escalated on Wednesday when the Awas Bachao Sangharsh Samiti launched a “Dera Dalo-Ghera Dalo” protest and staged a day-long sit-in near the residence of BSL Executive Director (HR) Rajshree Banerjee.
From the morning, dozens of protesters gathered outside the ED (HR)’s residence, holding placards and raising slogans against the BSL management and Rajshree Banerjee over the proposed vacation of the Sector-12 quarters. The protest turned the area into a focal point of tension, prompting the deployment of police and a two-tier security arrangement around the ED’s residence as a precautionary measure.
The protesters alleged that BSL was preparing to dismantle the Sector-12 colony without first addressing the deteriorating condition of the existing houses. They claimed that several quarters have not received timely repairs and that residents are also facing inadequate basic amenities. The committee warned that the agitation would be intensified if the management failed to consider their demands.
The protest brought together former employees, licensed occupants and local residents, who opposed the notices issued by BSL asking occupants of unsafe quarters to vacate. Protesters argued that some of the alternative quarters offered by the management are themselves in poor condition and demanded either better accommodation or repairs to the existing Sector-12 houses.
BJP leader Angela Singh said residents should not be forced to vacate unless suitable accommodation is provided or a concrete solution is reached. Other protesters, including local resident Pammi Kumari, said they would continue the agitation until the issue is resolved.
Why BSL Wants the Quarters Vacated
BSL management, however, has maintained that the move is based on structural safety concerns rather than a plan to arbitrarily dismantle the colony. BSL Chief of Communication MK Dhan said, a structural safety survey of selected BSL township quarters was conducted by experts from NIT Patna around two years ago. Following the assessment, 1,242 quarters spread across 149 blocks in Sector-12 were declared unsafe. “The structural problems cannot be addressed through routine maintenance and that vacating the identified buildings is therefore necessary to protect residents,” added Dhan.
The management has been allotting alternative accommodation to eligible occupants in a phased manner, including quarters in Sector-8 and Sector-11. The alternative houses are being repaired on priority and will be handed over after the required work is completed. Several repaired quarters are reportedly ready for occupation, he said.
BSL Appeals for Cooperation
BSL has issued repeated public and individual notices urging legitimate occupants to shift to the alternative accommodation. The management has also appealed to residents to resolve the matter through dialogue and cooperation.
The plant authorities have stressed that safety must take precedence over continued occupation of buildings declared structurally unsafe. At the same time, the occupants and the Awas Bachao Sangharsh Samiti have refused to back down, demanding a satisfactory solution before vacating the Sector-12 quarters.
With protesters camping near the ED’s residence and the management standing firm on its safety-driven relocation plan, the Sector-12 housing dispute has now emerged as a major flashpoint in Bokaro.
