Ranchi, Oct. 13: A day after protesters in the Seraikela-Kharsawan district forced him to skip the foundation-laying ceremony of the Iccha dam, chief minister Arjun Munda today announced 30 per cent reservation for those displaced by the Subarnarekha Multipurpose Project.

Munda said the government was considering to enact a new law so as to ensure rehabilitation for those uprooted by development projects. The displaced will be given 30 per cent job reservations in all sectors, provided they fulfill other criteria. ?From now on, rehabilitation will be ensured before displacement,? he added.

He also asserted that the Kharkai irrigation project will be completed at the earliest so as to provide irrigation facilities to 80,000 hectare in the state.

Munda also denied that angry villagers had demonstrated against him at the Ichcha dam yesterday due to which he had to give the ceremony yesterday the go-by. He claimed that the programme was not on his agenda.

He, however, admitted that a large number of people had assembled near the Iccha dam to relate their woes, while he was on way to address a public meeting.

?You can check my programme schedule yesterday. Laying the foundation at the Iccha dam was not on my itinerary. But, as I was passing through the area, people assembled to register their protests. I have already ordered on-spot settlement of any dispute. The people need not come to Ranchi to get compensation,? he argued.

Replying to a question, the chief minister admitted that a sizeable portion of Jharkhand and Orissa has been submerged by the Subarnarekha project.

The Subarnakeha right bank canal has almost been completed and Orissa will greatly benefit from it. To get the maximum advantage from the project, Jharkhand needs to develop the Kharkai project or else areas like Chandil will suffer.

Munda also said the BJP supports a special Assembly session to introduce amendments to the Panchayati Raj Act but wanted a consensus on the issue.