SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, July 4: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren today alleged that all the central governments since the freedom of the country are responsible for the backwardness of Jharkhand.
The CM, who was addressing the inauguration programme of different projects at Golf Ground here on Monday late afternoon, alleged that not only mining companies did not pay compensation to Raiyyat (land owners) but the central government also has been sitting on the compensation due of Rs 1 lakh 36 thousands crore of Jharkhand for mining of mineral resources.
“Ironically, Jharkhand is called the most backward state in the country but at the same time, people also call it Sone Ki Chiriya (golden bird),” said the chief minister.
“In fact, in terms of available mineral resources Jharkhand is of course the wealthiest state in the country but the Government of India has been exploiting it right from freedom,” he added. He said that had the central government paid its due compensation for mineral resources, there would not have been unemployment, displacement, poor infrastructure and other problems in the state.
“The central government not only exploited coal albeit other mineral resources also without giving compensation. Such a situation would not have appeared had someone raised their voice against this earlier,” the CM said.
Hemant Soren said that how many problems his government faced ( Corona pandemic) just after he came to power is not hidden from people. Even ministers, MLAs, doctors, and health workers were affected by the pandemic. Now the government is trying to normalize the situation and bring development on track.
The chief minister on the occasion launched 118 development projects worth Rs 350 crores 84 lakh.
He said 80% of people of Jharkhand live in villages. So the state government has focused on the development of villages. “After 32 years, the state government has appointed 100 agriculture officers to guide farmers in agriculture development in villages,” he said.
While announcing several development projects for Dhanbad, the CM said that several public sectors unit run in Dhanbad and he would discuss with them the development of the region.
Health Minister Banna Gupta in his short speech government is committed to taking the state on the development path. He alleged that coal companies like BCCL and CCL only misuse the resources.
The chief minister arrived over 2 hours late for the programme. His scheduled arrival was scheduled at 12.30 pm but he arrived at 3.15 pm. Due to his busy schedule, only the health minister addressed the programme. Congress Jharia MLA Purnima Neeraj Singh, District Board Chairman Sharda Devi and Tara Devi, wife of Sindri BJP MLA Indrajit Singh, were not given the chance to speak.
