Ranchi: The Ranchi district administration has cracked down on unauthorised rural construction, warning property owners of stringent legal consequences, if they fail to adhere to the govt’s mandatory building plan approval regulations in rural areas.In a public notice issued on Thursday, deputy development commissioner (DDC) and chief executive officer of the Zila Parishad in Ranchi, Sanjay Kumar Bhagat, cautioned that the administration will initiate strict legal action against any construction activity that bypasses the established guidelines.Under the state framework, it is mandatory to secure building layout plan approvals from the Zila Parishad for any construction project exceeding an area of 5,000 square feet within the jurisdiction of Panchayati Raj Institutions.The mandate follows the implementation of the Jharkhand Panchayat Land Development (Layout and Building Construction) Rules, 2017, through which the Jharkhand Building Byelaws 2016 were amended and adopted for rural territories. Under this amendment, the executive power to sanction these layout plans within rural limits is vested solely with the Zila Parishad.To streamline the procedure and ensure transparency, the district administration has transitioned the entire approval mechanism to an online platform. Property owners intending to undertake large-scale construction within panchayat areas are required to submit their layout applications digitally through an architect officially registered with the Ranchi District Council.Stressing the absolute importance of regulatory compliance, senior officials clarified that any construction above the specified 5,000 square feet threshold commenced without a sanctioned layout plan will be deemed entirely illegal. The public has been strongly advised to secure the necessary clearances beforehand to avoid punitive legal measures and potential demolition liabilities.
