State PCS - Jharkhand (JPSC)

• 22 May 2025

Revival of Mandal Dam Project

Why in News? 

The Jharkhand government has approved the relocation of seven villages situated in the submergence zone of the Mandal Dam in the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR). 

Key Points 

• About the Mandal Dam Project: The Mandal Dam is located in the PTR covering parts of Garhwa, Latehar, and Palamu districts in Jharkhand on the North Koel River, a tributary of the Sone River. 
  • The project was originally conceived decades ago but has remained non-functional due to local opposition and lack of consensus on rehabilitation and environmental concerns. 
    • A task force was also set up in 2015 to speed up the clearances. 
  • The project gained momentum when the Prime Minister laid its foundation stone in January 2019. 
  • PTR will benefit from the project as the vacated land will be submerged, forming a large water body that can help reduce the persistent problem of human-animal conflict in the districts. 
• Relocation of Villages: Seven villages, including Kutku, Bhajna, Khura, Khaira, Saneya, Chemo, and Meral, will be relocated. 
  • Each household will get one acre of land and Rs 15 lakh as compensation. 
  • The relocated area will be developed as a model cluster to provide better living conditions for the villagers. 

Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR)  

• PTR is located on the Chhotanagpur plateau in western Latehar district, Jharkhand.  
  • 'Betla National Park' is situated within 226.32 sq km of the Palamu Tiger Reserve, which is spread over a total area of 1,129.93 sq km.  
• The project area is constituted mainly of Sal forests, mixed deciduous forests and bamboo groves.  
• The reserve zone is the watershed area for 3 important rivers Koel, Burha and Auranga. 
• It was constituted in 1974 under Project Tiger and is one of the first nine tiger reserves established in the country at the inception of the project. 
  • It was the first sanctuary in the world to conduct a tiger census using pugmark counts, done in 1932. 
• The keystone species include Tigers, Elephants, Leopards, Grey Wolf, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Four- horned Antelope, Indian Ratel, Indian Otter and Indian Pangolin. 

Tribes Advisory Council (TAC) Meet in Jharkhand

Why in News? 

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren chaired the Tribes Advisory Council (TAC) meeting. 

• The aim is to implement  Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) rules, ease land sale norms, improve tribal welfare, and preserve tribal culture and traditions in the state. 

Key Points 

Tribes Advisory Councils (TACs)  

• Constitutional Provision: As per Article 244(1) of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution: 
  • TACs must be established in each state with Scheduled Areas. 
  • The President may direct the formation of TACs in states with Scheduled Tribes but no Scheduled Areas. 
• Objective: TAC is responsible for advising on issues related to the welfare and advancement of Scheduled Tribes in the State whenever referred to it by the Governor. 
• Council Composition: 
  • TAC shall consist of not more than 20 members. 
  • Around three-fourths must be Scheduled Tribe (ST) representatives from the State Legislative Assembly. 
• States with TACs in Scheduled Areas: TACs have been formed in the following 10 states with Scheduled Areas — Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Rajasthan. 
• States with TACs but No Scheduled Areas: West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. 

 Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, 1996 

• About: 
  • The PESA Act was enacted on 24th December 1996 to ensure self-governance for people living in tribal areas, called Scheduled Areas, through traditional village assemblies known as Gram Sabhas. 
  • The Act extended the provisions of Panchayats by providing self-tribal rule to the tribal areas of Fifth Schedule states. 
• Legislation: 
  • The Act defines Scheduled Areas as those mentioned in Article 244(1), which states that the Fifth Schedule applies to Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in states other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. 
• Significant Provisions: 
  • The PESA Act establishes the Gram Sabha as a forum for community participation in the development process. It is responsible for identifying development projects, preparing development plans, and implementing these plans. 
  • The Act mandates the establishment of village-level institutions, including the Gram Panchayat, the Gram Sabha, and the Panchayat Samiti, to carry out development activities and provide basic services to the community. 
  • Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat are granted significant powers and functions related to managing natural resources and regulating economic activities. 
  • The Act provides for the protection of land rights of tribal communities in the Scheduled Areas, requiring their consent before any land is acquired or transferred. 
  • The Act safeguards the cultural and social practices of tribal communities in the Scheduled Areas, prohibiting any interference in these practices. 

Note 

• Jharkhand has the 12^th largest tribal population in India, comprising 8.3% of the country’s Scheduled Tribes. 
• Major Tribes of Jharkhand: 
  • Gondi (one of the largest groups in India) 
  • Munda (one of India's largest scheduled tribes) 
  • Santal (largest tribe in the Jharkhand state of India in terms of population)