People's Democracy

JHARKHAND

 Revoke Illegal Licence to PANEM Project:CPI(M)

THE Communist Party of India (Marxist) Jharkhand state committee condemned the Vajpayee government and the Arjun Munda government in Jharkhand for granting the rights of coal extraction in Amrapara block in Santhal Pargana to a private company in violation of the Constitution and the judgement of the Supreme Court.

In a statement issued on March 13, the CPI(M) observed that the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India made it mandatory that such policy decisions must be taken only in the Tribes Advisory Council. As per direction of the Constitution in Part IX and as per Jharkhand Panchayati Raj Act, 2001, the leasing of land for private companies has to be approved by the Gram Sabhas and at appropriate level of panchayat system. Further, the ‘Samata’ judgement of the Supreme Court banned any kind of industrial activity by private companies in tribal dominated scheduled areas under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.  In case of PANEM project in Amrapara block in Pakur district in Jharkhand, both the central and state governments ignored the provisions of the Constitution, law and the order of the Supreme Court.

Such project for coal extraction will cause large scale displacement of tribals and other poor people, felt the CPI(M) state committee.  The local people are agitating against taking over of their land and their displacement. The government is cracking down on these poor tribals, branding them as extremists. The CPI(M) charged that the government had unleashed a reign of terror in that area.

True to their policy of liberalised economy for the big industrialists, both foreign and Indian, the Congress party also supported this measure. The state president of Congress, Thomas Hansda, reportedly wrote to the governor of Jharkhand supporting the illegal, unconstitutional act of the BJP-led government in PANEM coal project. It may be recalled that the same Thomas Hansda had earlier supported Babulal Marandi’s attempt to bring fundamental changes in Chhotanagpur and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Acts, which were favouring big industrialists while hurting the interests of the tribals and the poor in the state.

The Jharkhand state committee of the CPI(M) demanded the central and the state governments to immediately cancel the license to the private company in PANEM coal project. It expressed total support to the ongoing struggle of tribals and the poor of Amrapara for protecting their lands and against their displacement.