Coal transportation from a major National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) project in Jharkhand's Hazaribag district was severely disrupted for several hours on Friday after a dramatic protest by a former minister. Congress leader and ex-agriculture minister Yogendra Saw brought traffic to a standstill by blocking a crucial 2.2-kilometer road with a temporary brick wall.
Midnight Wall and Mounting Tensions
The unusual blockade was erected late on Thursday night in the Mundatoli area, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Pagar police outpost in Keredari block. The action by Saw, a former Barkagaon MLA, led to long queues of empty trucks waiting to load coal from NTPC's Chatti Bariatu Keredari coal project, crippling the supply chain for a significant part of the day.
Saw justified his drastic move by claiming the road was built on a 60-decimal plot of land belonging to a woman. He alleged that while NTPC had signed an agreement with the landowner, it had failed to provide the promised compensation, leaving her in a lurch.
Administration Steps In, Heated Confrontation Ensues
The situation prompted a swift response from the district administration. Senior officials rushed to the spot, and a magistrate-level officer, Dilip Kumar Das, was deputed to resolve the crisis and remove the blockade. The scene, however, turned tense as discussions began.
A heated argument broke out between the magistrate, along with Keredari police station officer-in-charge Vivek Kumar, and Saw's wife, Nirmala Devi, who is also a former MLA. The prolonged discussions failed to yield a resolution, forcing the administration to take direct action.
Wall Demolished, Conflicting Claims Emerge
With the impasse continuing and coal transport paralyzed, the administration finally dismantled the boundary wall and cleared the road, allowing the stranded trucks to resume their movement.
In response to the allegations, NTPC presented a different version of events. The power giant maintained that it had entered into a legitimate agreement for the land in question with another woman, Chhabiya Devi. The company stated the land was recorded as Gairmazrua Aam under khata number 803 and that payment had been made as per established norms.
Adding a legal perspective to the dispute, Keredari Circle Officer Ram Ratan Barnwal clarified a key point. He stated that agreements made in the name of private individuals on land classified as 'Gairmazrua Aam' or 'Gairmazrua Khas' are not considered legally valid. This statement effectively rejected the core of the former minister's claim regarding the legitimacy of the compensation issue.
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and complex land acquisition issues that often surround large infrastructure and mining projects in the region, pitting local claims against corporate and governmental procedures.
