Ranchi: Chief Minister Raghubar Das today assured the people of Jharkhand that no tampering will be allowed with the basic features of the Chhota Nagpur Tenancy Act and the Santhal Paragana Tenancy Act by the state government.
He said the land acquisition laws were only being simplified for the speedy development of the state.
Das, who was addressing a large gathering at Gram Vikas Sammelan organized at the HEC Stadium in Dhurwa, said a provision had been laid down by the government to pay four times compensation and that too, within four months in land acquisition cases.
In case the projects are not implemented within five years, land will be returned to their original owners. Besides the compensation amount will also not be taken back from the land owners, he said.
The CM said the state government was chalking out plans for the development of Jharkhand by involving the people. �In the last 15 years, the people were only silent spectators. But now they have become active participants in the process of development. Gram Sabha meetings are being held. We want to develop a state free of malnutrition, illiteracy, corruption and poverty.�
Das said land was required for rural development. �The people want their villages to be developed and their households to be lit up with electricity. Their children should get light to study and progress in life.
Today, construction of power sub-stations in Pesrar of Lohardagga and Gujri of Chaibasa was made possible due to availability of land.
Out of the 68 lakh households in the state, only 38 lakh households are getting electricity supply. If it took us 70 years to bring electricity in the 30 lakh households, should we wait for another 50 years to light up the remaining 38 lakh households? Certainly not, we should rather work together to pave way for the state�s fast-paced development.�
The CM said the government had a vision to provide electricity to the entire Jharkhand before 2018. �In order to achieve this goal, the government needs to acquire land. Besides, people want health, education and irrigation facilities in their villages.
Earlier, coal from Jharkhand was sent out to other states to provide them electricity. Now the government wants to set up power plants here to utilize the huge coal reserve of Jharkhand to supply round the clock electricity to the people of the state,� he said.
The CM said the honorarium given to the Manakis, Mundas and Gram Pradhans of the state will be enhanced. Honorarium will also be fixed for Manjhis, Parganets and Parha Rajas. Gram Pradhans performing well will be honoured with Jharkhand Ratna on the foundation day of the state. All saran Sthals will be fortified and renovated within a year, he said.
Das said the government planned to set up community radio stations to inform people about government plans for their development and welfare. A special skill development scheme will be run for the Adivasis. Corrupt officials have been suspended and terminated by the government to give pace to development works, he said.
The CM further said that the students of Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls Schools had been given tabs by the government to keep pace with the modern times. The gram pradhans and village children of Jharkhand will be made competent with knowledge, he said.
State rural and Panchayati Raj minister Neelkant Singh Munda was also present on the occasion. He said the government was reaching out to the masses to make plans as per their desire and requirements.
State registration and land reformation, art and culture cum tourism minister Amar Kumar Bauri, also present during the programme, said certain people were trying to defame the government in a bid to take away the credit for the excellent work being done by it.
State social welfare cum woman and child development minister Dr Louis Marandi said the traditional social structure of the state was being strengthened through the medium of gram sabhas.
Many dignitaries including Jharkhand Chief Secretary Raj Bala Verma and other senior bureaucrats were present during the event.
