For long West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand was known for its abundant forest resources and rich tribal culture. Abundant with iron ores and other minerals, there was nothing that set it apart from other tribal dominated patches of the region.
However, things have changed quicker with passage of time. The region is now a throbbing ground of mining operators who have simply revolutionised West Singhhum way beyond recognition.
The transformation, however, gave rise to illegal mining that led to environment imbalance in the process and many of ore mafias turned into millionaires. No wonder, the candidates in fray have made the rising illegal mining as main poll plank in the Singhbhum constituency, which goes to poll on April 17.
Taking the lead, BJP candidate laxman Gilua is targeting his arch rival sitting MP Madhu Koda’s wife Geeta Koda of Jai Bharat Samanta Party for their involvement in the illegal mining. According to the local poll pundits, Gilua is in attack mode on Koda family for the allocation of lease to several mining companies during 2006-2008 in the State.
The fraud involving allocation of the iron ore lease was a part of multi-crore money laundering case involving former Chief Minister Madhu Koda. Social worker Binil Purty said that the vested interests in the mining sector are bent upon to destroy the world famous Saranda forest and adjoining forest areas.
They just want to mine every inch of the area at the cost of ecology, environment, biodiversity, wild life for which Saranda is known world wide. “People have been worst hit due to illegal mining and Gilua jee has promised the local people if voted to power he will work to curb the illegal mining activities,” said Purty.
Not only Geeta Koda, BJP is also targeting Congress Party’s Chiktrasen Sinku for Union Government’s failure in taking initiative in maintaining the ecological balance of the area. Singhbhum lok Sabha constituency comprises the six legislative Assembly segments, including Seraikela, Chaibasa, Majhgaon, Jaganathpur, Manoharpur, and Chakradharpur.