The barricading done by the villagers of Khijri village under Kamdara Block in Gumla, was removed by the district administration following a team of officials convincing them that none of their rights will be violated and they could make their complaints, if any, with the Deputy Commissioner who will take proper action in this regard.
The villagers had banned the entry of government officials into the village without the permission of gram sabha by putting barricading before it against the proposed 1320 MW hydro power project in the area.
“The matter has been resolved and the barricading was removed today after some of our officials visited the spot and convinced the villagers that they should make complaints before the Deputy Commissioner and barricading was not going to solve their purpose,” said Gumla SP Chandan Kumar Jha. The villagers have also given in writing that they will not repeat it again as it was done mistakenly, he added.
The SP further added that they had been protesting against the proposed mega power plant being set up in Kamdara and were not willing to give their land for it to the Government.
“They were told that only Deputy Commissioner could do something in this regard and hence they should approach him in writing for which they agreed and are supposed to write a letter to the DC in a day or two,” said the SP.
Kamdara BDO Pawan Kumar Metha, who had also visited the spot along with SDO KK Rajhans, said that the villagers accepted that the no entry board was meant only to stop mediators to enter the village without permission of the Gram Sabha in order to save their land.
“They have admitted that it was their fault and will change the board and will put a fresh one warning for the mediators who enter the village without the permission of Gram Sabha,” said the BDO. There was a proposal of setting up a power plant at Kamdara and the villagers believe that they will become landless after the Government acquires their land, he added.
Incidentally, Khunti Superintendent of Police (SP) along with 150 police personnel on August 24, were put in captive throughout the night by the villagers at Kanki Siladon villlage in Khunti, hardly 60 km from the State Headquarters after being agitated with the removal of barricading put by them against the proposal (now withdrawn) of the State Government to make changes in the CNT and SPT Acts.
They, however, could be released on Friday morning only after Deputy Inspector General Amol Venukant along with Khunti Deputy Commissioner reached there to pacify the agitated villagers.