Birbhum — a proposed coal mine in West Bengal and the related health hazards

The West Bengal government’s ambitious ₹35,000 crore Deocha Pachami coal block mining project at Mohammad Bazar has been facing protest over land acquisition.

Days before the Birbhum Lok Sabha constituency goes to polls, the villagers around the Deocha Pachami proposed coal mining project got an interesting handbill from the Trinamool Congress leadership.

The handbill with photograph of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says that after the victory in Lok Sabha polls, the Trinamool Congress will ensure a pakka house for the people. Attached with the handbill are three columns where the people can write their names, the name of their village as well as their phone number. A telephone number is also provided on the pamphlet where the villagers can call to express their consent for having a house.

The handbill has amused villagers at Kendrapara village in the Bharkata area that falls under the Deocha Pachami proposed coal mine project. Sushil Murmu, a youth from the village feels that the handbill is an attempt to seek the nod of the people to give land for the proposed coal mining project.

“We will not give away our land. I was not at home when these hand bills were circulated. If I had seen the TMC leaders circulating such handbills I would have objected,” Mr. Murmu said.

Flags of Trinamool Congress are hung at various places in the remote village which is surrounded by a thick layer of dust. The village Kendrapara is surrounded by scores of stone quarries, which seem to be grinding stones in stone chips round the clock.

The West Bengal government’s ambitious ₹35,000 crore Deocha Pachami coal block mining project at Mohammad Bazar has been facing protest over land acquisition.

The State government is planning to start mining at the Deocha Pachami coal block, considered to be the largest coal block in the country with reserves of around 1,198 million tonnes of coal and 1,400 million cubic metres of basalt, spread over an area of 12.31 sq. km, which is around 3,400 acres. There are around 12 villages in the project area with a population of over 21,000, comprising Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has assured that there will be no forcible land acquisition for the project and in 2022 the compensation for land acquisition.