Liberation of Saranda forests from Naxal hold through development, to be focused as model

Asia’s largest sal forests in Saranda, under West Singhbhum district in Jharkhand, after being liberated from the Naxals hold through Anaconda- 1 Anaconda-2 operation last year by the CRPF, Cobra, Jharkhand Jaguar and Jharkhand Armed Police, followed by unveiling an ambitious development plan worth Rs 249 crore for development in the villages of Saranda spread over 99 sq km, is being considered by the ministry of rural development to focus it as a model for other Naxal-hit states in the country, where similar development are being projected.

With the funds of the Union government, infrastructure projects in 56 villages liberated from the Naxals hold will be built. A team of senior officers from several ministries headed by the Union cabinet secretary A K Seth came from Delhi on Friday and assessed the problems in executing development work in the Naxalite infested districts of the state.

This is the first time after constitution of Jharkhand bifurcating Bihar on November 15, 2000, such a high-powered team from the central government consisting cabinet secretary, secretary, planning commission and chairman of the railway board visited the state capital to review the development work and law and order situation in the state with a marathon meeting of six hours with the governor’s two advisers — Madhukar Gupta, K Vijay Kumar and senior officials of the state.

It was decided that another meeting in Delhi would be held where the state officials would meet the Union government’s counterparts from the ministries of home affairs, communications, information technology and planning commissions to ensure speedy funds allocation for the pending projects to be taken up in the Naxal-hit pockets of the state.

During review of security issues in the rebel-hit areas in the state, it was revealed that Naxalism has become so acute in some pockets of the state where construction activities could not be activated because of non-response to bid calls by the contractors. The contractors had blamed that they did not respond to the bids as hefty levies were being imposed by the rebel leaders on each work orders.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and India Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel in Saranda forests continue to live in temporary tents for the last several months despite of sanction for construction of 17 permanent camps in the dense forests of Saranda. Jharkhand Police Housing Corporation has been assigned for the job but it was unable so far to find out any contractor for the job However, for the first time since the formation of the new Jharkhand state, National flag was hoisted on the Republic Day on January 26 this year by the Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh. Naxals have for years boycotted Republic Day celebrations in Jharkhand.