Delegation from Saranda Meets Governor, Seeks Forest Rights and Probe into DMF Irregularities

PNS

Ranchi

Residents of the Saranda forest region on Friday met Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, urging the issuance of forest rights pattas under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and the provision of basic constitutional amenities.

The five-member delegation, led by Bharat Adivasi Party’s West Singhbhum district president Sushil Barla, visited the Lok Bhavan in Ranchi. Members of the Forest Rights Committee, including Benedict Lugun and Machwa Champia, were also part of the delegation.

The group appealed to the Governor to ensure identification of families residing in forest villages prior to 2005 and to direct officials to expedite the process of granting forest rights pattas. They also submitted a memorandum seeking a high-level probe, under the supervision of the Jharkhand High Court, into alleged irregularities in the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) in West Singhbhum.

According to the memorandum, people living in mining-affected areas such as Chiria, Gua, Kiriburu and Noamundi are not receiving due benefits despite substantial funds allocated under the DMFT. It claimed that although crores of rupees have been spent on providing safe drinking water, villagers are still dependent on rivers and streams.

The delegation further alleged discrepancies in several drinking water projects across Manoharpur block, including Laikor, Dimbuli, Hakagui and other panchayat’s areas, where pipeline-based supply has reportedly not reached households despite claims of near-complete expenditure.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Barla said that in 2020, 72 families from Dumangdiri-Tentai forest village had submitted claims for forest rights pattas to the sub-divisional committee at Podahat-Chakradharpur, but no action has been taken so far. He added that hundreds of families from nearly 30 forest villages are still awaiting decisions on their claims, with the administration neither granting pattas nor formally rejecting applications.

The delegation also raised concerns over a directive by the Supreme Court of India to declare around 31,468 hectares of the Saranda forest as a wildlife sanctuary, alleging that the existence of long-settled forest villages was not adequately presented before the court.

Mr. Barla said the Governor assured them that he would write to the Chief Minister and direct concerned authorities to take appropriate action.