Jamshedpur: A large-scale protest planned by the Bagbera Development Committee under the leadership of its president, Subodh Jha, was postponed today due to the Sarhul festival, a major tribal celebration in the region. The protest was aimed at demanding the immediate implementation of the Bagbera Rural Water Supply Scheme and the completion of the filter plant construction in Bagbera Housing Colony.
With the summer heat intensifying and groundwater levels dropping below 600 feet in areas like Bagbera, Ghaghidih, Kitadih, and Harharguttu, the protest was also set to highlight the need for urgent water supply through 30 tankers across these panchayats. However, as thousands of rural residents began gathering at different locations in preparation for the protest at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Subodh Jha received official confirmation of a government holiday due to Sarhul.
Jha immediately began informing the public through phone calls and personal visits to different localities, urging them to postpone the protest. Gathering points such as Ramnagar Hanuman Temple, Gandhinagar branch ground, and Pashtun Nagar temple saw large crowds, while people in Harharguttu assembled near the local pond. Jha personally addressed the crowds from 8:00 AM onwards, explaining that since all district offices were closed for Sarhul, the protest would be rescheduled to either Thursday or Friday. He assured the villagers that they would be informed of the new date through their local representatives.
Responding to his appeal, the rural residents returned home but continued their demonstration by banging utensils in protest against the water crisis.
