Tribals suspend 7-day-long agitation in NMDC Kirandul
   Date :14-Jun-2019

 
Staff Reporter:
 
RAIPUR,
 
Tribals threaten administration of a much more intensive agitation if it fails to meet the demands in 15 days 
 
 
Tribals who had laid a seize of the NMDC operations in Kirandul since last seven days, suspended their agitation on Thursday but gave an ultimatum of 15 days that if the assurances promised to them are not met by then, the tribals who were protesting under the banner of Sanyukt Panchayat Jan Sangharsh Samiti, will return with much more vigorous agitation. Talking to The Hitavada, leaders of Sanyukt Panchayat Jan Sangarsh Samiti said that they have suspended their agitation following the assurance given to them by the district administration and also due to the positive decision taken by the state government.
 

 
Heavy contingent of security forces arrive at NMDC-CISF check-post as district administration imposed Section 144 after Wednesday midnight. 
 
However, if the assurances which are time-bound are not met, more fierce agitation will be launched. According to the assurance letter given by Sub Divisional Magistrate Dantewada, it was stated that if all the relevant documents are provided to the district administration and if all villagers concerned extend their fullest cooperation, then the district administration would carry out a thorough investigation on the process of gram sabha which was held in 2014 at village Hirauli in Dantewada district for allocation of NMDC Deposit-13 mines, within 15 days, in compliance of Chhattisgarh Gram Sabha (Meeting Procedure) Rules, 1994 and Chhattisgarh Panchayati Raj Act 1993. Earlier, the district administration had clamped Section 144 in the area and the court of Sub Divisional Magistrate Dantewada had issued orders to the Sanyukt Panchayat Jan Sangarsh Samiti and the tribals to vacate the area by Wednesday midnight as the state government had agreed to all their demands.
 
 

 
 Rejoicing members of Sanyukt Panchyat after their initial victory.
 
 
If the agitation site is not vacated the district administration will be compelled to remove them forcibly as it is creating law and order situation. However, since the tribal leaders while welcoming the state government’s decision, were adamant that the gram sabha which was held in 2014 was a forged one and mines allocated on the basis of this gram sabha has to be cancelled. Seeing the adamancy of the gathering, SDM Dantewada gave written assurance that the gram sabha conducted in 2014 will be investigated thoroughly.
 
Following this assurance the Sanyukt Panchayat suspended their agitation but gave an ultimatum that if their demands are not met in 15 days, more fierce agitation will be held. It may be recalled that during meeting with a delegation led by Bastar MP Deepak Baij, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had ordered immediate halt on deforestation of affected area, proper action will be taken after checking illegal cutting of trees; to investigate the complaint received against the Gram Sabha that was arranged in the year 2014; to immediately stop all actions related to the project for now; and the concerned departments will initiate necessary correspondence with Government of India about related subjects with immediate affect. Thus the impasse which was going on since last seven days came to end for the time being.
 
It is worth mentioning here that undeterred by the scorching heat, wielding bows and arrows, the tribals from about 200 villages in Dantewada, and adjacent areas, had started agitation opposing handing over of the 10MTPA capacity Bailadila Iron-ore Deposit-13 at Kirandul in Dantewada district to Adani Enterprises Ltd as Mine Developer-Cum-Operator (MDO). However this seven days impasse led to NMDC incur loss to the tune of Rs 100 crores approximately. During these seven days the tribal remained at the agitation site 24x7 singing songs and dancing to the beat of drums. They were demanding a complete shutdown of mining operations while asserting that if mining commences here, the thick jungle cover in the area will be completely destroyed. The area has enormous religious significance for the tribal as the hill is revered as the shrine of Pitod Devi, wife of nature god, Nandaraj, which is why the tribal cannot allow mining activity in mineral-rich Deposit 13, as the site houses their deity. Mining activities on the hill will also affect water resources, like rivers, leaving them dry thereby affecting the lives of the tribal.