Chief Minister Hemant Soren today said that the government is always with tribal communities for protection of assets and rights of tribals and indigenous people. “We believe in doing, rather than saying. Today, the message is going from village to village that the government is standing with them for their interest. It is our constant endeavour that the tribes of the State should work for the uplift of the indigenous people,” said the CM while addressing the delegation of Kendriya Jan Sangharsh Samiti, Latehar-Gumla against Pilot Project Netarhat Field Firing Range at Chief Minister's residential office here on Thursday.
On this occasion, the delegation expressed gratitude for the decision of the Chief Minister not to extend the Netarhat Field Firing Range notification. He was also honoured by the delegation with a turban and a shawl.
The Chief Minister said that in this movement which has been going on for 28-30 years, today the government has taken a decision in the interest of the natives. Work is being done to complete the process related to the 1471 square kilometer land coming under the firing range, now that the poor should have rights there. He said that the government is also taking appropriate action for the problems being faced by the CNT, SPT Act. He said that we are working to protect the property and rights of tribals and indigenous people.
Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji, Lok Sabha MP Vijay Hansda, Sisai MLA Jigga Susaran Horo were present on the occasion.
Notably, the CM has given approval to the proposal of extension of Netarhat Field Firing Range on the point that it does not seem to be under consideration. The Netarhat Field Firing Range, started in 1964, was extended by the then Bihar government in 1999. Keeping in view the public interest, the CM agreed to the proposal not to re-notify the Netarhat Field Firing Range.
In protest against the Netarhat Field Firing Range, a memorandum was also submitted by about 39 revenue villages of Latehar district to the Governor, Government of Jharkhand through the general meeting, in which it was told by the public affected by the Netarhat Field Firing Range that Latehar and Gumla districts come under Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. Here the PESA Act 1996 is applicable, under which the Gram Sabha has Constitutional rights. Under this, the village heads of the affected area of the Netarhat Field Firing Range organized a Gram Sabha on the demand of the affected public and decided not to make the land inside the village limits available for the Netarhat Field Firing Range for the army's firing exercise. At the same time, the notification of Netarhat Field Firing Range was not extended further and requested to cancel the project by duly publishing a notification.
The people affected by the Netarhat Field Firing Range were continuously protesting for the last 30 years to cancel the notification of the Netarhat Field Firing Range. Like every year at present, a protest was held on 22-23 March against the Netarhat Field Firing Range.