Half of Jharkhand needed for industries

A report indicates as much as half of Jharkhand would be required to accommodate industries and other projects planned for the state even as the state government held a crucial public meeting on resettlement and rehabilitation policy.

A report prepared by the Xavier Institute of Social Service in Ranchi said over 32,088 sq km land of the total of 79,740 sq km available in Jharkhand, has already been utilised for setting up industries, dams and other projects. 

Another 242 sq km would go in to accommodate the 60-odd industrial houses which had already signed MoUs with the state government in recent months.

The report said fresh coal blocks had been identified in areas covering 464 sq km.

This indicated that almost 50 per cent of Jharkhand would be needed for industries, dams, roads and other projects.

The Jharkhand government's draft rehabilitation policy received a mixed response from citizens at the meet hosted by the state industry department.

The government process faced criticism from many NGOs and activists from Singhbhum and Kolhan who boycotted the state-level people's meet organised by the Jharkhand government industry department a few days ago.

The meeting was chaired by Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister in charge of the Industry Department Sudhir Mahto.

Activists from Singhbhum who boycotted the meeting termed it a 'farce' and resolved to unite under the banner of 'Visthapan Virodhi Ekta Manch'.

The participants suggested that the R&R policy should make provisions for suitable rehabilitation of those already displaced by various projects in the state. They pointed out about 4500,000 of the total 7500,000 displaced people were yet to be rehabilitated in the state.

The deputy chief minister told reporters later that the state government was keen to come out with R&R policy and make it acceptable to those losing land.

The final draft of the R&R policy needed inclusion of suggestions received through such gatherings which had a cross-section of people, civil society organisations, displaced people's bodies, and representatives of religious bodies and the common people.

Mahto said his department (industry) had invited suggestions from MLAs and related departments on the proposed R&R policy by January 26. The participants told the deputy chief minister that the R&R policy should ensure "satisfactory' rehabilitation of land donors before setting up of the projects.

They also suggested public debate on the draft policy.