A two-member team headed by Birbhum ADM Ranjan Kumar Jha drove up to Dumka to meet DC Mukesh Kumar amid recent controversy surrounding Massanjore dam on Wednesday. This was the first such consultation since Welfare Minister louis Marandi had vocally protested over ‘undue’ interventions done being by the neighbouring West Bengal in managing the inter-State multipurpose project over the Mayurakshi River.
Not much was revealed to the media after about what transpired into the hour long meeting but the Dumka DC maintained that the need to maintain harmony between the people of the both the neighbours was paramount.
“We agreed that citizens of both the states are peace loving and maintaining their harmonious relationship should be our top most priority. We have identified issues such as removal of Jharkhand logo and signage from the dam and the roads constructed besides changing the colouring pattern of Massanjore dam. The officials representing the DC of the Birbhum have been told to convey the message back home. We would soon hold senior level consultation to defuse the tension whatsoever,” said Mukesh Kumar.
He also on the occasion told the media to refrain from fanning out the controversy out of proportion in the interest of the both the States and the people. In the meanwhile politics refused to die down on the issue when JMM legislator from Sikaripara Nalin Soren claimed that is was he who first had raised the matter in the House and public domain.
“The BJP and louis Marandi are trying to grab the issue for political gains now. I have on several occasions talked about the injustice done to the people of Jharkhand as far as the agreement existing with West Bengal is concerned,” said the MlA.
The Minister issuing a warning to the West Bengal Government had protested over the interferences and the authoritative attitude and said that any attempt to overpower the dam would be handled with iron hand. The statement inflamed atmosphere whereas similar reaction also came in return from the other side. Some reports about manhandling being done to the people from Jharkhand living or going there appeared into the media.