Will plough city landmark if not compensated: Tribals

Over 100 tribals and Moolvasis on Friday threatened to plough the city landmark Beldih Golf Ground and stop water supply from Dimna water reservoir if the State Government does not organise a meeting with Tata Steel management within a month to clear payment of compensation for land acquired by the steel major for setting up its plant.

Under the banner of Jharkhand Moolvasi  Adhikar Manch the tirbals staged massive demonstration  in front of the district collectorate.They submitted a memorandum addressed to State chief secretary Rajiv Gauba through additional deputy commissioner East Singhbhum, Sunil Kumar. They claimed to have land records and have been denied the compensation.

“The protestors were asked to bring their land records along with them and we have submitted the land records along with our petition to the chief secretary showing that no compensation for the land acquired has been given by the Tata Steel management or by the State Government while acquiring land,” said Harmohan Mahto chief convenor of JMAM.

The protesters said that the chief secretary has been asked to arrange a tripartite meeting between district administration, Tata Steel and the moolvasis to sort out the compensation issues within a month. “We are serious about our demand. If there is no meeting arranged within a month despite moolvasis having all the land records we will be forced to take the law  into our hand and plough in the Beldih Golf Ground and also stop water supply from Dimna lake,” added Harmohan Mahto.

The JMAM leaders claimed that original settlers from Sakchi, Beldih, Jugsalai, Kadma, Sonari, Bara (Agrico), Baridih, Nildih (near Telco), Jojobera, Kalimati, had come for the dharna.The leaders claimed that two moolvasis who were displaced during construction of the Sonari Aerodrome are yet to receive their compensation.