Protesting against proposals. Picture by Mani Keshri

Kathikund (Dumka), May 9: Land acquisition has become the biggest initial roadblock to the twin thermal power projects that were supposed to come up in the district.

With agriculture minister Nalin Soren, Shibu Soren’s son Basant among five others being declared “bitthals” (socially outcast according to tribal norms), the projects of DVC and CESC may not start at all even almost two years after MoUs were signed.

“In the first phase, we are trying to locate our enemies who played the nasty game to snatch tribal lands,” said Munni Hansdak, the convener of Jharkhand Ulgulan Manch, an organisation which fights the cause of villagers for their rights over jal-jamin-jungle.

“The bitthal will prevent the accused persons from moving to any hamlets and also restrict their activities inside our community. It was a preventive measure,” Hansdak added. A sense of anger has apparently spread over villages like Amgachi, Kourighar, Moholbanna, Sahabinda, Bandarpani, Dolkata, Majaldehi, Pakdaha, Fulashdangal, Daldali, Nalb- hanga, Sarashdangal, Bara Chapuri among others in the tribal-dominated Kathikund and Shikaripara blocks, about 25km from the district headuarters.

The villagers think that the projects would displace them like the people of Amrapara where Panem coal mine started operation, or in Boyarijore, Godda, where many were displaced because of Rajmahal coal field project.

Abundance of coal in the area and water in the Brahmani and Arodulmi would be the ideal site for power plants. More than 49 revenue villages in the two blocks are necessary for the proposed plants.

Besides, more villages are likely to be submerged following the construction of dams there, a survey conducted by a private company reported.