'Won't Give Land To Adani Project': Parbatjhora Villagers Continue Protest

A wave of resistance has swept through the Garaimari area of Parbatjhora as villagers from at least 17 villages staged an intense protest against the government's decision to allocate land to the Adani Group for a proposed thermal power plant. The allocation, which has sparked outrage among the local population, marks the latest in a series of contested land transfers in the region.

The controversy began when the Adani Group was initially granted 3,000 bighas of land in Pagalijhora of Bansbari for the power plant. However, that plan met with fierce opposition from residents, forcing the authorities to consider alternate sites. Subsequent proposals for land in the Panijani area also encountered stiff resistance. The forest department has now allocated land in the Garaimari area, only to face yet another wave of protests.

Several villagers gathered in unity to voice their refusal to part with their land. “We are protesting here today as we refuse to give our motherland to the Adani Group,” said one of the protestors. “People from 17 villages have gathered here to protest. We won’t sell our land, not even one inch.”

The government has argued that the thermal power plant will create employment opportunities for local youth and bolster trade and commerce in the region. However, the protestors remain unconvinced. “We don’t need those jobs. We won’t take jobs from the Adani Group, that is why we are here to protest,” said one resident firmly.

Adding to the tension is the allegation that the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) government has already granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the project, a claim that has further fueled public anger. “We have heard that an NOC has already been issued and we have evidence of that,” another villager claimed. “That is why we have stopped all our work and come here to protest today. We will not give our land and property to the Adani Group.”

What adds weight to the villagers’ resistance is the constitutional status of the region. As a Sixth Schedule area, Parbatjhora enjoys special protections under the Indian Constitution, which allows for self-governance and safeguards the land and rights of indigenous communities. Protestors have invoked this status in their demand for the cancellation of the land allocation.

“If necessary, we are ready to give our blood, but we will not leave our land,” declared one of the villagers, symbolising the deep emotional and cultural connection they have with the land and their fierce determination to protect it.

As tensions mount, the future of the proposed thermal power project remains uncertain, with the people of Parbatjhora standing firm in defence of their land and identity.

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