Jairam Ramesh pillion-rides in Naxal-hit area

Union Minister Jairam Ramesh, who went for a pillion ride in Maoist-hit Jhumra Hills area of the state today, said the Centre would soon announce the Jhumra Action Plan (JAP) to develop the villages of three contiguous districts in the area.
"JAP to the tune of Rs 250 crore - 300 crore will soon start in the villages falling under Bokaro, Hazaribagh and Ramgarh districts sharing borders with Jhumra forests under the plan," the Rural Development Minister told reporters here.
Riding pillion of a two-wheeler, Ramesh went round the under-developed villages close to the hills.
He said road, education and health centres would be taken up under the plan.

The minister said he had asked Deputy Commissioners of the districts to submit him reports about ways of implementing JAP.
A senior police official told Ramesh that development works in the naxal-affected villages could be taken up with police protection.
"Naxalism will go away once development reaches the villages," Ramesh claimed.
The minister had already announced Saranda Action Plan (West Singhbhum district) and Saryu Action Plan (Latehar) and official sources said works were underway.