Hazaribag: A public hearing organised by the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) for environmental clearance to the Gondalpura coal mining block in Hazaribag district descended into chaos on Tuesday after a section of locals created a ruckus at the venue.According to eyewitnesses, a large number of protesters, some armed with traditional weapons such as spears, arrows and sickles, arrived at the hearing site on tractors and stormed the pandal, damaging it.Sources said the group appeared to have come with the intention of disrupting the public hearing process.In view of the deteriorating law-and-order situation, Hazaribag sub-divisional magistrate A K Pandey cancelled the hearing until further notice. “A fresh date will be fixed later. No arrests have been made so far and the situation is under control,” he said.Taking to X, leader of the opposition, Babulal Marandi, questioned the functioning of the state govt. Former local MLA Amba Prasad also reached the spot and interacted with villagers.
