Tension gripped Hazaribagh’s Kerudari block on Thursday when heavy machinery razed the house of former minister Yogendra Saw in Jordaag, all in the presence of a formidable police contingent. This bold step by NTPC stems from a protracted feud over land compensation tied to the expansion of the Chatti Bariatu coal project.
For several days, Saw had been encamped at his property with wife Nirmala Devi, the ex-Barkagaon legislator, protesting what they deem an unfairly low compensation package. Despite the amount being settled and lodged in tribunal court upon his refusal, the impasse persisted, stalling vital mining operations.
Administrative efforts to mediate failed amid rising frictions. With project delays mounting, officials greenlit the demolition using three poclains, overseen by the block officer and NTPC team. Security forces blanketed the area to maintain order during the high-stakes operation.
Reacting swiftly, Amba Prasad, Saw’s daughter and former MLA, blasted the demolition on social platforms, labeling it an authoritarian tactic by the state machinery. Promising court battles ahead, she affirmed her trust in judicial intervention. The incident has supercharged local politics, spotlighting grievances over opaque land deals in Jharkhand’s coal-rich zones and raising questions about balancing development with landowner rights.