The cash-strapped Jharkhand Mineral Area Development Authority has planned to construct a marketing complex and marriage halls to increase its revenue.

Marketing complex-cum-marriage halls have been planned at five places of Dhanbad, Chirkunda, Topchanchi, Nirsa, Rajganj and Govindpur, on vacant land owned by the authority.

Estimates of Rs 8 crore each for the marketing complex and marriage halls at Chirkunda and Topchanchi have been prepared.

The estimates for Nirsa and Rajganj are underway.

The civic body is also planning to construct a multi-storeyed market complex at its vacant land in Govindpur.

Confirming the development, a technical member of the civic body, Indresh Shukla, said, “We have already prepared the estimates for the two projects at Topchanchi and Chirkunda, which are being reviewed by technical experts. After review, these will be presented before the State Urban Development Department for sanction.”

He added that the Topchanchi marketing complex, comprising around 12 shops, would be developed on an acre of land near the SDO office while the Chirkunda based marketing complex-cum-marriage hall would be developed on its colony land in Chirkunda.

"We are in the process of developing an estimate for a similar marketing complex at Nirsa and Rajganj. All the marketing complexes and marriage halls will be given on rent to increase the revenue base,” said Shukla.

The civic body is planning to utilise the fee collected from BCCL, ECL and Indian Explosives Limited (IEL) to develop the market complex to increase its revenue.

The Mineral Area Development Authority head office at Luby Circular Road in Dhanbad Gautam Dey

The Authority was established in 1984, according to an Act of the Bihar government, following the merger of the Water Board and Mines Board to look after the sanitation, health and water supply work in sub-urban areas of Dhanbad.

The water tax is the only source of funds for the civic board at present, which has an employee strength of nearly 2,000.

“Though the MADA Act relies on the state government to provide it funds as grants, debt or loans, the government never bothered to restore the financial health of the oldest civic body, which is responsible for providing water and sanitation to more than 20 lakh people in the district,” alleged a former employee of the Authority.

He added that non-payment of tax for more than 1,500 water posts established by the district board is also a cause of loss of revenue.