Mail News Service
Jamshedpur: The 600th protest demanding the implementation of the Bagbera Rural Water Supply Scheme was organized on Saturday at Ramnagar Hanuman Mandir Chowk in Bagbera. The protest also called for making Bagbera, Kitadih, Harharguttu, and Parsudih rural areas a municipal council or including them in the Jugsalai Municipality. The agitation, led by the Bagbera Mahanagar Vikas Samiti, highlighted the continued neglect by the government toward resolving water supply issues affecting 2.25 lakh residents across 113 villages in 21 panchayats.
BJP District President Sudhanshu Ojha, present at the protest, accused the JMM-Congress government of obstructing the scheme. “The Bagbera Rural Water Supply Scheme is a significant initiative gifted by former Chief Minister Raghubar Das. It is unfortunate that the current government has failed to implement it. The BJP stands firmly with the villagers and the committee to address the water crisis,” Ojha stated.
Following the protest, a delegation from the Bagbera Mahanagar Vikas Samiti submitted a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the Deputy Commissioner.
Committee President Subodh Jha expressed frustration at the lack of progress despite 599 earlier protests since 2005. “This 600th movement symbolizes the desperation of people who have been deprived of their basic right to water for years. False assurances by the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, including promises made in court, have only added to the suffering,” Jha said.
He further emphasized that a phased strategy has been planned. “We will hold one-day protests in every village to spread awareness. If the government remains unresponsive, we will gherao the Assembly and Lok Sabha,” he added.
Committee conveners Pavitra Pandey and Vinod Ram announced plans to file a PIL in the Jharkhand High Court to investigate alleged financial irregularities in the Rs 237 crore Bagbera Rural Water Supply Scheme, Rs 50.58 crore Housing Colony Water Supply Scheme, and another Rs 1.88 crore scheme.
The event saw participation from numerous villagers and leaders, including Deepak Dangi, Renu Sharma, Sarita Murmu, and others. The next phase of the agitation is scheduled to take place in Gandhinagar.
