local residents at Ghaghra, at the city outskirt, are up in arms against the “land acquisition” process begun to set up Apollo Hospital Chennai unit by Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC).
RMC officials, on February 27, had announced that a branch of Apollo Chennai would come up in the state capital at Ghaghra and for it 2.80 acres land has also been identified.
On the condition of anonymity a local resident who is also protesting said, “Since 1908, the piece of land has been with our forefathers. How can they (civic body) allot our land without consulting usIJ”
“It is our land and we have its document with us. If RMC wants to build a hospital here, they should have consulted us first before commencing the leveling work. We are raising our voice against the injustice and are also planning to stage a demonstration in front of RMC office. For this, a meeting will be conducted to decide our further move,” added another resident.
On Feburary 28, Chief Minister Hemant Soren was to lay the foundation stone of the hospital at the earmarked site of Ghaghra but in the wake of the local residents’ protest, who have to vacate the plot to make the way for the project, RMC shifted the venue to its office at the last moment.
According to sources, when RMC men arrived at for the project site to demarcate the land and level the ground, the residents protested saying they will not allow any hospital to come up on their land. The civic team had to come back as protest flared up.
Interestingly, Councilor of ward number 50 lakshman Kachchap who represents the area has also admitted that the residents of Ghaghra are opposing the construction of the hospital. He said, “the people are claiming it their ancestral property and will not allow the hospital to come up there. I am trying to find a midway solution. The time is not right to make any further comment on this.”
However, RMC officials have termed the protest baseless. RMC CEO Manoj Kumar said, “The land belongs to RMC and we are not taking away any one’s right. According to Supreme Court’s order if the land is empty for more than ten years with no claimant the land will be considered as Corporation’s property. Confusion has occurred and will be sorted out soon.”