Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Feb 3: Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran Mahto today raised a critical issue in the Parliament under Rule 377, calling for a robust displacement and rehabilitation policy in Jharkhand. He highlighted the plight of families affected by land acquisition in the state’s industrial areas, stressing that while Jharkhand’s mineral wealth and industrial progress have positioned it as a major economic centre, the cost of this development is borne by farmers and tribal communities who have lost their ancestral lands.
“Land acquisition for projects such as dams, canals, mining operations, highways, and railways is essential for national development,” MP Mahto remarked. However, he pointed out that these projects often come at a high price. “Affected families have neither received adequate compensation nor have proper rehabilitation plans been implemented,” he added, citing examples of displacement across the Koyalanchal region—from Bokaro to Dhanbad—and noting the continued suffering of communities displaced by projects like the Chandil and Sitarampur dams.
MP Mahto urged the government to devise a comprehensive and structured policy that goes beyond merely providing a house in exchange for land. “Rehabilitation must include guarantees for education, health, employment, and other basic services to help families start anew after such disruptive losses,” he stated.
He further emphasized the urgent need for a national-level redefinition of policies concerning land acquisition, displacement, and rehabilitation, with effective implementation measures to ensure the welfare of affected communities. His remarks have added momentum to the growing demand for better safeguards for those displaced by developmental projects, underscoring the need for a balanced approach that supports both economic progress and the rights of local populations.
