Villagers ban CM, JMM from entering Singhbhum region
JAMSHEDPUR: People from 87 villages in the Tantnagar block falling under the Singhbhum parliamentary constituency have announced that they will not allow the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate and Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren and party workers to enter their villages due to the party “taking a U-turn on its promise to scrap the IchaKharkai Dam project” in the West Singhbhum and SeraikelaKharsawan districts.
In a meeting organised under the banner of the Icha-Kharkai Dam Virodhi Sangh (IKDVS) in Kulaburu on Monday, the people resolved to oppose the JMM for reneging on its promise and to further intensify their agitation for the permanent closure of the Icha-Kharkai Dam project, which is worth Rs 12,000 crore.
“We are shocked to hear CM Champai Soren’s statement that the Icha-Kharkai Dam won’t be scrapped, absolutely contrary to what they had said before the 2019 assembly elections and, on many occasions after winning the polls. We won’t allow the CM, JMM candidate, or party workers in the 87 villages under Tantnagar and Chaibasa (Sadar) blocks. There is no need for them to campaign here. We started our no-entry to JMM program from Kulaburu, Gaurasai, and Sindi villages on Monday,” said Bir Singh Buriuli, IKDVS president, to HT on Wednesday.
He further said that a delegation of IKDVS recently met with the CM, requesting him humbly to fulfil JMM’s promise of scrapping the Icha-Kharkai Dam project, as lakhs of people would be adversely affected, with a total of 87 villages falling in its catchment and submerging area.
“But the CM just brushed aside our request... we came out of his residence in tears. The JMM won the 2019 elections by promising to scrap the project and has now taken a U-turn. We will now reply through our votes,” added Buriuli.
A total of 120 villages are estimated to come under the submerging and catchment area of the under-construction IchaKharkai Dam in Chaibasa, Tantnagar in West Singhbhum, and Rajnagar in Seraikela-Kharsawan - all falling in the Singhbhum Lok Sabha seat. JMM MLA Dipak Birua, now a minister in the Champai Soren government, has also been a vocal supporter of scrapping the project.
The agitation may impact at least three assembly segments of Chaibasa (Sadar), Majhgaon, and Seraikela (CM Champai Soren’s constituency) under the Singhbhum parliamentary seat.
IKDVS convenor Daskan Kudada said previous Hemant Soren government had passed a resolution to scrap this project on March 12, 2020, and an order was issued on March 13, 2020.
“But work started again in September 2020 and is still ongoing,” said Kudada.
Meanwhile, BJP candidate from Singhbhum, Geeta Kora said she has always supported the villagers’ demand to scrap the Icha Dam project.
“Over a lakh people will be affected. The villagers are making a just demand to protect their lives and existence. The Hemant Soren government also agreed to scrap it. I was on a committee formed by the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) on the issue during the Hemant Soren government in 2013-14. It recommended scrapping the Icha Dam project. But the state government has not sent this to the GoI,” Geeta Kora told HT on Tuesday over the phone.
“JMM has made it an election jumla that it works for the tribals, and protects their interests, but in reality, they are doing just the opposite. I also raised the issue in the Lok Sabha,” added Geeta. She visited Icha Dam-affected areas on Tuesday during poll campaigning.
However, JMM candidate Joba Majhi was guarded in her statement, citing the model code of conduct being in force.
“This is a Union government project. This may adversely affect the people of 87 villages coming under the catchment area. If people vote me to victory, I will surely raise the issue in the parliament and talk within my party and INDI alliance to improve the design and, if need be, reconsider the project,” Joba told HT from Goilkera.