Jharkhand CM Assures Tribal Leaders to Consider Their Sentiments on Lugu Pahar Hydel Power Plant Project

Hemant Soren, the chief minister of Jharkhand, has been informed by tribal religious leaders of the discontent among the Santhal tribe about the projected 1500 MW Lugu Pahar Pumped Storage Hydel Power Plant of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) in the Gomia block of the Bokaro district.

Leading the group from Lugu Buru Ghanta Bari Dhorom Garh was Baiju Murmu, the religious leader (Desh Pargana Baba), who asked the chief minister to revoke the DVC's plans to store hydrogen in pumped storage on Lugu Pahar.

The Santhal tribal people's precious religious legacy is Lugu Pahar. It is rich in forests and breathtaking scenery. Baiju Murmu, a resident of Ghatshila in the East Singhbhum district, said, "We have asked the state government to cancel the project as it would hurt the tribal sentiments. Setting up a hydel power plant would ruin its sanctity."

Lugu Baba Cave, also called Lugu Buru Ghanta Bari Dhorom Gadh, is the focal point of the tribal people's revered Mahadharma site, located in the Lugu Pahar. Every Amavasya and Kartik Purnima, worshipers swarm to this location. We've been informed that DVC has carried out studies and made an effort to reassure the tribe concerning the development of the land. We are aware, however, that once the project gets underway, these promises will be broken. In the event that the government fails to take action to save our sacred location, we have threatened with violent agitation," Murmu said.

The planned project is located in Tulbul panchayat's Pindra and Tuti Jharia, around 15 km from Gomia block and 70 km from the district capital of Bokaro. The dam will be constructed 500 meters or so from the sacred shrine of the Santhal tribe, Lugu Baba Temple. The project is expected to cost Rs 5,200 crore.

DVC sources state that the project will consist of two reservoirs, one at a lower height and the other at a greater elevation, and that it will be a closed-loop type pumped storage system. An underground powerhouse will serve as the water conductor system's conduit between the two reservoirs. Power will be produced during peak hours by discharging water from the higher reservoir into the lower reservoir via a water conductor, turbines, and generator erected at the powerhouse.

The chief minister gave the group his word that the government will make choices that took into consideration the feelings of the local tribespeople, according to a statement released by the chief minister's office on Wednesday.

"The group was given assurances by the chief minister that the state government will always preserve the tribal people's beliefs, traditions, culture, and customs. The government's first objective ever since it was founded has been to protect the indigenous peoples' places of worship, the communiqué said.

"Saving Lugu Mountain, the holy legacy of the Santhal tribe, is also our collective moral obligation. In reference to the Lugu Pahad Handle Pumped Storage Project that Damodar Valley Corporation Limited has planned, the state government will file a lawsuit and make a determination based on public opinion. According to the communiqué, the chief minister said, "Tribal identity will be protected at all costs and nobody will be allowed to hurt tribal sentiments."