Tana Bhagats of Jharkhand and their opposition of a highway project
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Vulnerable sections (SC/ST, minorities, disabled, elderly, children)· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
The Tana Bhagat community in Jharkhand is protesting a Bharatmala highway project, alleging that the widening of NH-43 violates their land rights and ancestral sites protected under special Constitutional provisions.
Background
The project involves widening NH-43 between Gumla and Chhattisgarh as part of the Raipur-Dhanbad Economic Corridor. The Jharkhand government asserts that land acquisition is being conducted under the National Highways Act, 1956.
Facts for Prelims
- SchemeBharatmala: A national highway development scheme involving the Raipur-Dhanbad Economic Corridor.
- Act / BillNational Highways Act, 1956: The legal framework cited by the Jharkhand government for land acquisition.
- PlaceNH-43: The specific highway being widened between Gumla and Chhattisgarh.
- FactThe project aims to reduce travel time between Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh and connect industrial hubs.
For Mains
Q. Examine the conflict between large-scale infrastructure development and the protection of the cultural and land rights of indigenous communities in India.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Constitutional friction: Balancing the state's power of eminent domain under the National Highways Act against special protections for tribal communities.
Keywords: Eminent Domain · Tribal Rights · Infrastructure Development · Cultural Preservation · Land Acquisition
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.