Page 19 - Jharkhand

86% of Jharkhand's paddy cultivation land unused due to scanty rainfall

Around 86 per cent of Jharkhand's arable land, meant for paddy sowing, is still lying fallow due to scanty rainfall, officials said. Paddy sowing has not yet taken off in four out of 24 districts even though the peak period of sowing ends next week, according to agricultural experts. Jharkhand has registered a 47 per rainfall deficit till July 26, officials said. Farmers are worried over the condition and they speculate the state might face drought-like situations for the third consecutive term. In 2023, 158 blocks in 17 districts were declared drought-hit by the state government, and in 2022, it was 226 blocks. Paddy crop was sown in only 2.43 lakh hectares against the target of 18 lakh hectares till July 26 or only in 13.53 per cent of the arable land, according to the sowing report of state agriculture department. Paddy sowing could not be started in Palamu, Latehar, Chatra and Deoghar districts. The situation of overall kharif crops, which includes maize, pulses, oilseeds an

Soren slams BJP-led Centre for 'neglecting' Jharkhand in Union Budget

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday slammed the Centre for "neglecting" the state in the Union budget, and alleged that the BJP leaders are "silent" over the dues from the Centre. He also claimed that the Centre owes Rs 1.36 lakh crore to the state and demanded that its dues be paid by the Union government. "Who is guilty of discrimination with the state? The Centre owes Rs 1.36 lakh crore to the state, but every BJP leader is silent on this issue. Give a special package to your crutches - pay us our dues," Soren said on X. He was apparently referring to financial measures, announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget proposals on Tuesday, for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, ruled by key NDA allies -- Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) and Chandrababu Naidu's TDP -- which are providing critical support to the BJP-led government at the Centre. Announcing a host of developmental projects, Sitharaman proposed a total outlay of over Rs 60,000 crore for various ...

Congress criticises Union Budget, says it completely ignores Jharkhand

"Jharkhand suffers from the Centre's apathy because it is ruled by a non-BJP government.'' Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur said

J'khand officials to make report on impact of less rainfall on agriculture

Concerned over rain deficit in Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday directed officials to prepare a report on its impact on agriculture so that it could be placed before the Centre for seeking assistance. Chairing a high-level meeting of senior officials to review the impact of less-than-normal rainfall during the monsoon, he asked officials to start preparations on time to provide relief to the farmers. "If the situation of less rainfall continues for the next few days, then prepare a complete strategy to deal with it," he said, according to an official statement. He told the officials to speed up the work of irrigation projects, and along with it, prepare for alternative agriculture. He also directed them to remain alert and monitor the rainfall and sowing of crops in all the districts. "The chief minister said that this time too, a weak monsoon situation is being seen so far. This is having a direct impact on the sowing of paddy and other crops. Due to this, a large

27 Jharkhand workers stranded in Cameroon; appeal for help amid food crisis

In a video message, the workers, from Bokaro, Giridih, and Hazaribagh, said that they were brought to Cameroon on March 31 this year by a private company and have not been paid their salary

Hemant Soren govt wins trust vote in Assembly amid Opposition walkout

The JMM-led government in Jharkhand headed by Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday won the vote of confidence in the assembly amid a walkout by opposition members. A total of 45 MLAs, including nominated member Josheph P Galastaun, voted in favour of the confidence motion. BJP and AJSU legislators walked out of the House as headcount for voting started. The BJP-led opposition has 24 legislators of the saffron party and three of the AJSU Party. Earlier, BJP legislators trooped into the well seeking Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto's permission to allow MLA Bhanu Pratap Sahi to speak, which was turned down by the Speaker. Seventy-five MLAs were present in the assembly during the voting. Independent legislator Saryu Roy abstained from voting. The ruling alliance comprises the JMM, Congress and the RJD while it is supported from outside by the lone CPI (ML) Liberation legislator. After the Lok Sabha elections, the strength of the JMM-led alliance has been reduced to 45 MLAs in the 81-mem

Hemant Soren wins trust vote, backed by 45 MLAs in Jharkhand Assembly

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren successfully won the trust vote during an Assembly session on Monday

Jharkhand cabinet likely to be expanded after trust vote on June 8

On the eve of the crucial floor test of the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government on Monday, both the ruling alliance and the opposition held separate meetings to meticulously craft strategies for the special assembly session. While the JMM, Congress, and RJD legislators exuded confidence in securing a successful outcome in the trust vote, opposition BJP asserted that it wouldn't be easy for the ruling alliance. Following the trust vote, the Soren cabinet is set to be expanded, an MLA said. "Floor test and cabinet expansion were discussed during the meeting. After the trust vote, the cabinet will be expanded," Poreyahat MLA Pradeep Yadav told reporters on Sunday. Yadav, who joined Congress after winning the 2019 assembly polls on a JVM-P ticket, claimed they have sufficient numbers in the House to win the trust vote. JMM legislator Stephen Marandi said the party has instructed all alliance MLAs to be present in the House and participate in the floor test. On the other hand, the B

RSS annual 'pracharak' meet in Ranchi from July 12; Mohan Bhagwat to attend

All 'prant pracharaks', or province in-charges, of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will assemble in Jharkhand's Ranchi next week for their annual meeting which will also be attended by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. During the three-day event beginning July 12, the prant pracharaks will deliberate on the report and review of RSS training camps held in May-June, the RSS all India publicity head Sunil Ambekar said in a statement on Friday. Prant pracharaks are full-time RSS workers and they are in-charge of the province. The RSS has structured the organisation in 46 'prants' (provinces.) They will also discuss implementation of plans for the coming year among other topics, he said "The travel plan of Sarsanghchalak ji (RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat) for the year 2024-25 will be discussed. Also, there will be a discussion on the RSS' centenary year (2025-26)," he added. Ambekar said the meeting will be attended by RSS chief Bhagwat, general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale and joint general .

Hemant Soren takes oath as Jharkhand Chief Minister after 5-month absence

Earlier today, Champai Soren resigned as Jharkhand Chief Minister, paving the way for Hemant Soren's return

Champai Soren resigns as Jharkhand CM, Hemant stakes claim to form govt

Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren on Wednesday resigned from his post, following which JMM leader Hemant Soren called on Governor CP Radhakrishnan and staked claim to form the government. Earlier in the day, leaders and MLAs of the ruling coalition at a meeting at Champai Soren's residence here unanimously decided to elect Hemant Soren as the JMM legislature party leader. "I have resigned as per the decision of the JMM-led alliance. Our alliance is strong," Champai Soren said after coming out of Raj Bhavan. "All know what had happened with Hemant Soren Ji... I was given the responsibility by the coalition partners. Now, the alliance has decided in favour of Hemant Soren Ji," he said. Hemant Soren was released from jail on June 28 after nearly five months, after the high court granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. He had resigned as the CM shortly before his arrest on January 31.

Hemant Soren set to return as Jharkhand CM, Champai Soren to quit soon

JMM executive president Hemant Soren is set to return as chief minister of Jharkhand for the third time following consensus among legislators of the party-led alliance in the state, party sources said on Wednesday. Sources said Champai Soren, who had taken oath as the 12th chief minister of Jharkhand on February 2 after Hemant Soren's arrest, may resign from the post soon. Champai Soren has sought an appointment with Governor CP Radhakrishnan and the CM will call on him at 7.30 pm on Wednesday, Raj Bhavan sources said Leaders and MLAs of the alliance during a meeting at Champai Soren's residence here unanimously decided to elect Hemant Soren as the JMM legislature party leader, they said. "A decision was taken in the meeting to make Hemant Soren as the Chief Minister of the state again," a party source told PTI. If sworn in, Hemant Soren will be the 13th chief minister of Jharkhand, which was carved out of Bihar on November 15, 2000. Congress's Jharkhand in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mi

Key INDIA bloc meeting begins in Jharkhand amid guard change speculations

A crucial meeting of INDIA bloc legislators began here on Wednesday, amid speculations of a change of guard in the state, MLAs of the alliance said. The meeting has been convened by former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, who is also the executive president of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). Soren was released from jail on June 28 after nearly five months, as the high court granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. "A change of guard in the state is possible... This meeting is crucial. All the legislators of the ruling alliance assembled here at 11 am," a party source told PTI. The speculations were fuelled by the sudden cancellation of all important programmes of Chief Minister Champai Soren, including distribution of appointment letters to 1,500 selected teachers on Wednesday. On Tuesday, too, all public programmes of Champai Soren, who had taken oath as the 12th CM of Jharkhand on February 2 after Hemant Soren's arrest, stood ...

Former J'khand CM Hemant Soren to chair crucial INDIA bloc meeting today

Former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren is scheduled to preside over a crucial meeting of INDIA bloc legislators on Wednesday, amid speculations of a change of guard in the state, MLAs of the alliance said. Soren, the executive president of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was released from jail on June 28 after nearly five months, as the high court granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. "A change of guard in the state is possible... This meeting is crucial. All the legislators of the ruling alliance will assemble here at 11 am," a party source told PTI. The speculations were fuelled by the sudden cancellation of all important programmes of Chief Minister Champai Soren, including distribution of appointment letters to 1,500 selected teachers on Wednesday. On Tuesday, too, all public programmes of Champai Soren, who had taken oath as the 12th CM of Jharkhand on February 2, 2024 after Hemant Soren's arrest, stood cancelled. "We were

With Hemant by his side, Jharkhand CM Champai makes swift populist moves

The INDIA bloc govt in Jharkhand is hurriedly unveiling schemes ahead of the Assembly polls, even as the BJP reaches out to tribals

Ex-CM Hemant Soren declares 'rebellion' to drive out 'feudal forces'

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday declared a rebellion against feudal forces, asserting that the opposition INDIA bloc will drive out the BJP from across the country. Soren, addressing a rally here on the occasion of 'Hul Diwas', also claimed that the saffron party has turned jittery after his release from jail and its leaders are conspiring against him again. "I have stepped out of my home for the first time post my release to address you on Hul Diwas'. It is a day of inspiration for all of us. Like the Santhal uprising against the British, we declare 'Hul rebellion' to drive out feudal forces not only from Jharkhand but across the country," he said. The day marks the 1855 Santhal rebellion against the British. I was implicated in false cases... The Centre unleashes its probe agencies to harass those who raise their voice against it. It is only two days that I am out of jail, but the BJP is jittery. Top party leaders are frequenting Jharkhand and conspiring ..

Girder of an under-construction bridge collapses in Jharkhand's Giridih

A girder of an under-construction bridge over the Arga river collapsed and a pillar got tilted in heavy rain in Jharkhand's Giridih district, an official said on Sunday. There was no report of any injury, he said. The incident took place in Deori block, around 235 km from Jharkhand's capital Ranchi, on Saturday night. The bridge is being constructed on Fatehpur-Bhelwagati road to connect Dumritola and Karipahri villages. Executive Engineer of Road Construction Department, Giridih, Vinay Kumar told PTI, "The bridge is under construction. A single-span girder of the bridge collapsed due to heavy rain on Saturday night and a pillar got tilted. The contractor has been asked to rebuild the portion." He, however, did not divulge the project cost of the bridge. Sources said that the bridge is being constructed at a cost of around Rs 5 crore and it would connect the remote villages of Giridih in Jharkhand and Jamui district in Bihar. The casting on the girder was done a week ago and it n

Development of Jharkhand, welfare of tribal people BJP's priority: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who arrived here on Saturday to participate in a meeting of BJP leaders, said that the development of Jharkhand and the welfare of tribal people is the priority of the saffron camp. Sarma, who is BJP's election co-in-charge, would meet party leaders to discuss its strategies for the upcoming assembly polls in the state. "The party's priority is development of Jharkhand and the welfare of the scheduled tribe community here. There has been no government in the state for past five years. Atrocities on women and tribal people increased manifolds in the state in the past five years," he said. When BJP's manifesto comes out, one can see how much work the party has planned for tribal people in the next five years, Sarma said. Asked about the bail granted to former Jharkhand CM and JMM leader Hemant Soren, he said the "BJP does not keep accounts of who is going to jail and coming out on bail". Responding to a query about whether Soren's presence w

BJP will be wiped out from Jharkhand after assembly polls: Hemant Soren

Former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Saturday slammed the BJP for allegedly hatching a conspiracy against him and claimed that the saffron party will be wiped out from the state after the upcoming assembly elections. Addressing JMM workers at his residence, Soren said there would be a "revolt against those who plotted the conspiracy" to confine him in jail and "people of Jharkhand would not spare the BJP". "Time has come to put the last nail in BJP's coffin. In coming days, the BJP will be wiped out from Jharkhand," the JMM executive president said. Soren was released on Friday from the Birsa Munda Jail after the state high court granted bail to him in a money laundering case, observing that he was prima facie not guilty, and there was no likelihood of the petitioner committing an offence on bail. The JMM leader was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31 in connection with its investigation into the money laundering case linked to the illegal possessi

Jharkhand HC grants bail to former CM Hemant Soren in land scam case

The former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in January over a land scam case in Ranchi