Latehar, June 15 – In a powerful show of protest, farmers in Jharkhand’s Latehar district have launched an indefinite Jal Samadhi Satyagraha by standing knee-deep in the cold waters of Chatuag Dam. Their agitation is directed against the indifference of the National Highways Authority and Railway Department over long-pending infrastructure demands.
The farmers, both men and women, are demanding immediate commencement of construction work on the Torri-Chandwa flyover bridge and the resumption of work on the abandoned footbridge near Torri Junction. The protest has drawn attention due to its unique form — farmers wading into water and threatening permanent jal samadhi (water burial) if their demands are not met.
Protesters claim that the foundation stone for the flyover was laid by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren on April 3, 2021, but over four years have passed without any progress.
Their key demands include:
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Approval of revised DPR and tendering for the flyover on NH-99 (New NH-22) between Torri and Chandwa.
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Re-evaluation and increased compensation for land and homes acquired.
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Resumption of work on the closed footbridge on the west side of Torri Junction.
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Construction of an underpass near Torri Railway Crossing.
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Introduction of a passenger train between Torri and Balumath.
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Underpass near railway poles 182/28 and 182/29 on the Parsahi-Bhandargarha route.
The protesting farmers say they face daily traffic chaos at the Torri railway crossing and severe difficulties in transporting fruits and vegetables to markets.
“If work doesn’t begin soon, the government will be responsible for our jal samadhi,” a farmer warned.
The protest reflects deep frustration in rural communities over stalled development projects.
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