Tribal communities today demonstrated in front of the East Singhbhum district headquarter demanding immediate withdrawal of the Dalma Echo Sensitive Zone notification issued by the Union Environment Ministry in 2012.
Demonstrators laced with traditional weapons including bows and arrows assembled in front of the district headquarter under the banner of Dalma Chetriya Gram Sabha Suraksha Manch and staged the demonstration in support of their demand.
Addressing the gathering, president of the Manch, Pradeep Besra said 85 mouzas (one mouza comprised three to four tolas) have been included in the Echo Sensitive Zone without the prior approval of the Gram Sabhas.
Besides, 51 mouzas consisting of 136 villages would be affected by the project, he claimed arguing that they were 5th Schedule areas and the Dalma Echo Sensitive Zone project should be cancelled.
BJP MP Vidyut Baran Mahato, who addressed the gathering, assured that the state government would take into account the interests of the villagers.
Besides Mahato, JMM MLA and former minister Champai Soren and former JMM MLA Ramdas Soren took part in the demonstration.
Later, a delegation of the Manch handed over a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner Dr Amitabh Kaushal.
Covering the East Singhbhum and Sariakela-Kharsawan districts of Jharkhand, the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary extends over an area of 193.5077 sqkm and the forests help recharge ground water aquifer and protect rivers and streams against siltation by minimising soil erosion.
