Mar 23, 2025 06:33 PM IST
Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee introduced on the Bengal International Enterprise Summit on February 6 that preliminary work on the nation’s largest coal mine would begin instantly
Kolkata: Members of the Santhal tribe in Muhammad Bazar, West Bengal’s Birbhum district, referred to as off their agitation on Sunday after the state authorities assured them that their villages wouldn’t be evacuated for Deocha Pachami coal block venture, the world’s second-largest, as it will likely be an underground mining operation.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. (File Photograph)
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee introduced on the Bengal International Enterprise Summit on February 6 that preliminary work on the nation’s largest coal mine would begin instantly.
“An agitation started after that announcement because a section of the local media reported that tribal people would be evicted and some forest areas cleared. The government assured us at a meeting on Saturday that there would be no eviction since it will be an underground mine,” Sukhchand Soren, one of many leaders of the tribal group Bharat Jakat Majhi Pargana Mahal mentioned.
Saturday’s assembly in Kolkata was addressed by West Bengal Energy Improvement Company Restricted chairman PB Salim and Birbhum district Justice of the Peace Bidhan Roy.
In a parallel improvement, Anubrata Mondal, chairman of the West Bengal State Rural Improvement Company and president of the Trinamool Congress unit in Birbhum, shaped a 31-member authorities committee on the Muhammad Bazar group block to resolve issues on the floor degree.
After assembly the Bharat Jakat Majhi Pargana Mahal members, Salim mentioned: “Some people have spread a rumour that the government will take over 14,000 acres. We told the tribal people that the state requires only 3,400 acres since it is not an open cast mine. No eviction or deforestation is required for an underground project.”
“The state will have to buy some land. But it will be bought only from those willing to give their consent in writing. No land will be taken from villagers who refuse,” Salim advised the media.
An influence level presentation was used to elucidate the technical particulars of the venture to the tribal leaders. The federal government mentioned the Nationwide Institute of Rock Mechanics below the Union ministry of mines will perform the drilling.
Soren mentioned, “A clarification from the government was necessary. Meetings like this should be held at regular intervals for a project of this scale.”