SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi/New Delhi, Oct 14: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to protecting the rights and homes of people living in the Saranda forest region, declaring that no resident will be displaced under any circumstances.
Cabinet Meeting Reaffirms Commitment to Saranda Residents
The statement came shortly after a cabinet meeting where the issue of the Saranda Sanctuary was discussed in detail. According to the Chief Minister, there was complete consensus in the cabinet that the people who have been living in the Saranda forest for generations must not face any injustice.
“The cabinet agreed that, first and foremost, no harm should be done to the residents of Saranda. They will not be evicted or displaced under any circumstances. Our government is committed to ensuring they continue to live their lives with dignity and have access to all state and central welfare schemes,” Soren said following the meeting.
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Supreme Court to Hear Saranda Sanctuary Case on October 15
Soren’s remarks come just a day before the Supreme Court is set to hear the case concerning the declaration of the Saranda forest as a wildlife sanctuary. The matter is listed for hearing on October 15 before a bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran.
During the previous hearing on October 8, the Supreme Court, after considering arguments from the Jharkhand government and the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), allowed the state to declare 31,468.25 hectares of forest land as a sanctuary — significantly less than the originally proposed 57,519.41 hectares.
The court also directed that SAIL and other valid iron ore leases remain outside the sanctuary’s influence zone, and instructed the government to submit an affidavit within a week confirming the demarcation.
‘Those Who Protected the Forest Should Not Be Harassed,’ Says CM
The Chief Minister emphasised that his government’s primary concern is the welfare of those who have protected and preserved the forest for generations.
“We are resolving inherited disputes. My fight is to ensure that those who planted and preserved the forest are not harassed by complex rules and regulations. How long will tribals be made to suffer in their own land?” he said.
Soren also asserted that the government was prepared to set aside mineral interests if necessary to safeguard tribal rights.
“We may overlook mineral resources for a while, but there will be no compromise on the rights of the people. Our fight will continue, and we will respect the court’s decision only when our humanitarian concerns are recognised,” he added.
Tribal Groups Rally in Support of Hemant Soren
Earlier in the day, several tribal organisations from the Kolhan–Saranda region took to the streets in solidarity with the Chief Minister’s stance. They also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, addressed to the Governor, requesting a reconsideration of the Saranda Sanctuary case.
The organisations have also announced plans to impose an economic blockade in Kolhan on October 25 to press their demand for justice and protection of local livelihoods.
Saranda Sanctuary Case: A Battle Between Conservation and Community Rights
The Supreme Court’s upcoming hearing is expected to have far-reaching implications for both forest conservation efforts and the livelihoods of tribal communities in the mineral-rich Saranda region, one of Asia’s largest sal forests.