CM seeks tribal regiment, raises payment demands at EZC meet

Ranchi: Chief minister Hemant Soren appealed to the Centre to give directions to the ministry of defence to raise a tribal regiment of the Army apart from reminding the Union government of Jharkhand’s demand for payment of coal royalty dues and give back the state its forest rights.
Soren made the demands while attending the 25th meeting of the eastern zonal council chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah in Kolkata on Saturday.
Justifying his demand for a tribal regiment, the chief minister said the tribal community has contributed immensely to the development of the nation and has been at the forefront of making the supreme sacrifice for the motherland. “Still their grit and valour remained undermined. So, the formation of a tribal regiment would give them a chance to serve the nation as a distinct unit,” he said.
The chief minister also reiterated the long-pending demands of his government like pending payments worth Rs 1.36 lakh crore in royalties from the coal companies, including CCL, BCCL and ECL, which have not paid land lease rental to the state government for the mines operated in Jharkhand. He also reminded the Union home minister of the recent letter that the state has written demanding restoration of the state’s right to give clearance on forest land for up to five hectares.