Jharkhand lawmaker protests land takeover for power plant

Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) legislator Pradeep Yadav has started an indefinite peaceful protest -- Satyagraha -- against the proposed power plant of Adani Power in Godda district.

The Satyagraha continued for the second day on Monday.

Hundreds of villagers, who are likely to lose their land to the power project, are sitting with the legislator under the banner of Jameen Bachao Sangrash Samittee.

Last month, a public hearing on land acquisition by the Adani Power was conducted, at which majority of the participants consented to give their lands for the project.

However, the JVM-P legislator, who also joined the public hearing, alleged that "fake land owners" were called to the public hearing. After the legislator's supporters created unruly scenes, police resorted to lathicharge to disperse them.

An arrest warrant was also issued against Yadav last week.

"People are supporting the Satyagraha. Our President Babulal Marandi will also join the Satyagraha. We request the state government to stop land acquisition for the Adani Power," Yadav told reporters.

The Adani Power last year signed an MoU with the state government to set up a 1,600MW power plant in Santhal Pargana area of the state.

--IANS

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