Centre will rehabilitate people near Jharia Mines

The Centre is determined to rehabilitate around one lakh people living in areas near Jharia Coalfields in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad which have been facing the problem of underground fire and resultant land subsidence due to unscientific mining in the past.

“The government is determined to rehabilitate those near Jharia Mines on fast-track basis,” an official said.

Due to unscientific mining in the past, areas near Jharia Coalfields (JCF) and Raniganj Coalfields (RCF), located in Dhanbad district of Jharkhand and Burdwan district of West Bengal, respectively, have been facing the problem of fire and resultant land subsidence.

In order to address the issues, the government had approved a Master Plan in August, 2009 envisaging an estimated investment of over Rs 9,773 crore - Rs 7,112.11 crore for JCF and Rs 2,661.73 crore for RCF.

Fearing a “natural catastrophe” at Jharia and Raniganj Coalfields in Jharkhand and West Bengal, a parliamentary panel had asked the Centre to implement the Master Plan for checking fire and land subsidence on “war footing.”