Deocha Pachami locals take to Kolkata streets to protest against coal project

Activists protest coal mining project in West Bengal, demanding transparency and protection of tribal lands and environment.

Activists and locals from villages in and around the Deocha-Pachami-Dewanganj-Harisingha (DPDH) coal mining project in West Bengal’s Birbhum district organised a protest march in central Kolkata demanding a stoppage to the project and a ‘transparent meeting’ with the government.

Hundreds of villagers, including women, students and activists from across the State, marched from Sealdah Station to the Dharmatala area in Central Kolkata on Friday morning, protesting against the coal project and the episodic internet shutdowns in the area. They sloganeered and carried banners with slogans like ‘Cancel Deocha Pachami coal block’, and ‘No eviction, no coal block’.

On February 6 this year, mining work started at the DPDH coal block to excavate basalt and consequently, the underground coal reserves. Although West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee promised a lucrative compensation package and emphasised that no land would be forcibly acquired, protests erupted in the area against anticipated evictions and environmental damage.

“We want industry and development but we will not allow this coal project to evict locals, especially tribals from their rightful lands. We have reached out to the local administration through various channels and have protested against the coal block multiple times,” said tribal activist Shibu Soren at the protest rally.

Referring to the Chief Minister’s claim that no person would have to be evicted for the 3,600-acre-wide underground mining project, he alleged that such promises are meant as ‘eyewash’ to mislead the local tribal population.

“If the mining work continues, an atmosphere of hostility is bound to prevail in the area. Project workers from outside would regularly clash with local villagers. The natural environment will be destroyed, tribal culture will be destroyed, and religious establishments of minorities will be attacked. For the sake of Hindus, Muslims, Advisasis and to save the environment, our clear demand is a complete stoppage to the coal mining project,” Mr Soren said.

Sushil Murmu, a tribal from the area and president of the Deocha Pachami Gramsabha Samyani Hul Committee alleged the dissenters are being intimidated and falsely accused of Maoist activities to curb the burgeoning land rights movement in the area.