Coal mine displaced families submit evidence to Pakur Administration

Kartik Kumar

Pakur

Representatives of families displaced by the Pachuwara coal mining project met district officials at the Pakur Collectorate on Wednesday to press their long-pending demands for compensation, employment and rehabilitation.

The delegation, led by members of the Pachuwara Coal Mine Displaced Front, held discussions with Additional Collector James Surin and submitted documents in support of their claims. The meeting followed recent protests by displaced residents and a previous round of talks with the district administration, after which an inquiry committee was constituted to examine their grievances.

However, the displaced families expressed disappointment that, apart from the Additional Collector, no other members of the inquiry committee were present during Wednesday’s interaction.

The committee, constituted under the chairmanship of the Additional Collector, includes the Sub-Divisional Officer, District Land Acquisition Officer, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Maheshpur), District Mining Officer, Circle Officer of Amrapara, and representatives of WBPDCL and PSPCL.

The displaced families, represented by coordinator Mohan Murmu, reiterated their demand that affected tribal landowners be compensated at current market rates in accordance with the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013. They also sought government employment opportunities and participation in coal mining and transportation-related subcontracting work as part of their rehabilitation package.

The protesters have urged the state government, district administration and the mining companies concerned to address their demands through a transparent and time-bound process.