After a gap of about two decades, Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh on Saturday unfurled the national tri-colour on Republic Day at Saranda, which was liberated from Maoists last year.
Hoisting the national flag at the Digha Primary School premises Ramesh regretted the tardy pace of the Saranda Development plan.
Referring to the prevailing political situation in Jharkhand, he said President’s Rule was not an alternative to a popular elected government, which was needed to achieve rapid growth.
The union minister also inaugurated a PCC road constructed under the Integrated Development plan and handed over a cheque of Rs 10 lakh for completion of the Panchayat Bhawan.
Mr. Ramesh had earlier visited villages in Saranda thrice in the past to review to implementation of the Saranda Development Action plan.
Earlier, 56 villages in Saranda forest, Asia’s largest sal forest once a stronghold of the Maoists, was liberated by security forces.
