Working on SC’s Saranda order, will also protect tribals: Soren

Ranchi: Jharkhand govt on Wednesday sought an additional day to file its response in the Supreme Court on notifying Saranda as a protected wildlife sanctuary.Supreme Court on Oct 8 sought an undertaking from Jharkhand govt on declaring Saranda, a reserve of sal trees and wildlife, in West Singhbhum district a sanctuary.

It had said the move would not hurt mining activity carried out by Steel Authority of India Limited and others.CM Hemant Soren said while govt was working to declare the 341.7sqkm forested area a sanctuary, it was also actively working on plans to ensure tribals and those dependent on forests didn’t end up facing an existential crisis. “My priority and my govt’s priority are to balance both forests and those dependent on them,” he said.The proposal to declare Saranda a sanctuary was among 24 proposals taken up at a cabinet meeting Tuesday. It included a proposal to declare a 1km periphery area an eco-sensitive zone.Hemant told reporters, “Our main discussion focused primarily on protecting the rights of people living in Saranda forest, their water, forest, and land.” He added tribals had long been cheated due to various issues.