RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Oct.12: Tribal bodies opposed to letting the West Bengal-based Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) to operate a mine in Tubed village, Latehar district, met with Stephen Marandi, the chairman of the assembly sub-committee, and demanded that he look into the land issue.
The development took place on Monday evening as a delegation of tribal bodies reached the new assembly building, drawing the attention of Marandi towards the issue of mining on tribal land and explained how mining activities will take the Oraon tribe on the verge of extinction.
One of the members of the delegation, Vasvi Kiro, informed this saying Marandi assured proper action into the matter. “He (Marandi) said that he will summon the Deputy Commissioner of the district for a discussion on the matter and take appropriate action,” she said.
Meanwhile, Babulal Oraon, president of Adi Haq Suraksha Morcha, in an exclusive talk with Lagatar24.com said that his organisation will not allow mining at any cost.
“The company has been here since 2003, but we have made the decision not to allow it to work at any cost. It is claimed that landowners will be compensated in place of their land, but we must point out that tribes are unable to handle cash, and if they lose their land ownership, they will face extinction. The mining has also received no sanction from the Gram Sabha,” Oraon said, adding that tribes cannot survive without their land irrespective of its area.
Another resident echoed Oraon saying that there is no question of any compromise on the issue of Jal, Jungle and Zamin (water, forest and land). “We do not want any political inference in the matter. Apart from this, we are also not in favour of allowing any broker element in the matter. It is a question of our survival,” the resident, who did not want to be identified, said.
Earlier on October 4, the tribal bodies had come together at Bagaicha in Namkum to discuss the issue of mining and decided not to allow it in Tubed. The tribal organisations included Adihak Bhumi Rakhsa Morcha, Adivasi Sena, Jharkhand Rajya Vishthapit Purnarvasit Jan Aayog and Jharkhand Bachao Andolan.
During the meeting, it came to fore that in the first phase as many as six villages will be affected from this project from which 6 million tonnes of coal is expected every year for 30 years. The affected villages include Ambajharan, Dhoniajharan, Dihi, Nawari, Mangra and Tubed. Tribal bodies estimated displacement of 7000 people belonging to the Oraon tribe.
Apart from this, the tribal leaders had feared a crisis in 750 villages in the long run as they anticipated allied plans under the project in different stages. The allied plan includes diversion of course of the Sukri River, constructing 20 feet roads and laying railway tracks for the project besides others.
The coal project is being established to cater the needs of a 1000MW power project in West Bengal and 250MW power project in Chandrapura. An area of 750 acre of land is likely to get involved in the project on which Rs 1300 crore is likely to be spent every year.
