RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Jan.27: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren today landed at Budha Pahad, which used to be Maoist den till September 2022.
Budha Pahar is situated on the Jharkhand-Chhattisgarh border. Being a geographically difficult terrain, it was under Maoist control and it was difficult even for security personnel to take each step as Maoist having better knowledge of the area could ambush from any hidden location.
A large portion of Budha Pahad falls in Chhattisgarh while some parts come under Latehar district and Garhwa district of Jharkhand. Naxalites used to keep on carrying out incidents in other areas, keeping their eyes on police movement easily.
As the CM landed on the hills he added an extra feather to his cap as earlier no chief minister had visited there. Those accompanying him during the historic movement included chief secretary Sukhdev Singh and DGP Neeraj Sinha.
As chief minister Soren landed he was given guard of honour at Budha Pahar.
Landing at the hills, CM Soren is expected to launch the Budha Pahad Development Project (BPDP) covering 175 developmental schemes worth 5.279 crores. It is a part of an ambitious 100 crore project. He communicated with 150 villagers of Tehri Panchayat liberated from the clutches of extremists and also congratulated the security personnel who ensured liberation of the hill which is connected with Chhattisgarh.
The Chief Minister as part of BPDP will also distribute welfare benefits including mini tractors, pump sets, seeds, agriculture related kits, ration kits, football kits, bicycles to local people.
Highlights of the Budha Pahad Development Project (BPDP)
- Budha Pahad Development Project (BPDP) worth 100 crores to be launched for integrated development of the area
- Under the ambit of this, 11 villages of Tehri Panchayat of Garhwa and 11 villages of Aksi Panchayat of Latehar to be fully developed
- Total population of this ST dominated village is 11,890 (approx) out of which 5869 are females and 6021 are males
- Under BPDP, thrust shall be given for financial independence of the residents besides providing basic amenities like housing, ration, pension, health, education, safe drinking water in saturation mode
- Focus on infrastructure development such as roads, schools, buildings, anganwadi centres, irrigation facilities apart from host of other things
- Under the first phase of BPDP, foundation stone is being laid for the aforementioned schemes as well as distribution of benefits of various welfare schemes to be done worth 5 crores
