Amid protests, the foundation stone for the construction of boundary wall for the proposed Assembly building at Kute Village was laid peacefully by Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Friday. Ex-MlA Bandhu Tirkey, along with some other land rights activists, have been demanding the rehabilitation of the affected households before laying foundation stone at the proposed site and publicise the roadmap of development being prepared for these people by the State Government.
Das, while addressing the gathering at the proposed site, assured that his Government was in favour of development for everyone with the consent of people of the State. The CM termed it a golden day in the history of Jharkhand as construction for the State’s largest Panchayat was being started on Friday. The CM further added that the building will also provide a platform to give voice to over 3.5 crore population of the State through their elected representatives.
“The State Government purchased the land in the year 2010 to construct the new Assembly building on it and the original stake holders of the land piece have already obtained government jobs and compensation against it. In spite of that, those stakeholders currently living on the land will be given separate plots for rehabilitation,” said the CM.
"We will not let injustice done with anybody and those who are currently living on the land will be given two bedrooms flat having all facilities in it like electricity, water, road and park as well," added the CM. Das assured that construction work for the Assembly will be started within two-three months. The CM also appealed cooperation from the locals to complete the project as he was in favour of bringing development with people’s cooperation.
The CM also warned the villagers not to get carried away if someone tries to misguide them on the issue. “I will get into direct conversation with the affected villagers on June 16 as the Government wants to let live the people of the State with dignity and take the State to new heights with their cooperation,” said the CM.
Assembly Speaker Dinesh Oraon, on the other hand, calling it a great achievement in the field of construction of basic infrastructure after the formation of the State, said that the way it started today a new ray of hope has emerged in Jharkhand. “There must be a contribution of each and every individual in the development of the State,” said Oraon.
Earlier, talks were conducted with a delegation of the displaced households ‘Hatia Visthapit Parivaar Samiti’ on Thursday where it was decided to start the construction works of the boundary wall for the proposed Assembly building. Meanwhile, the State Government has taken time till June 16 to find a way out to fulfill the demands made by the affected households.
“A meeting has been called with a delegation of displaced families where we will be told about the government plan; if we do not find it satisfactory then we will stop the ongoing construction work at the proposed site,” said Pankaj Shahdeo of Hatia Visthapit Pariwar Samiti. Shahdeo, however, said that the State Government has already given its consent for most the demands being made by them while there are still a few on which the State government need to agree.
Tirkey, on the other hand, said that he was not against development, but wanted justice to be done with the displaced households. “Rehabilitation of the displaced households must be done before laying any foundation stone and the State Government also bring forward the roadmap it has prepared for the development of these people,” said Tirkey. The ex-MlA also shouted slogans against the construction along with some 200 people with whom he had come to register protest against the proposed site.
The administration was all prepared to tackle with any law and order situation during the programme. Huge police deployment, including static and patrolling police force, were done in the area to prevent untoward incident on the occasion. Deployment of forces was done much before the scheduled programme.