SUBHASH MISHRA
Jharia ( Dhanbad), Aug 10: On July 18, Umesh Paswan ( 38) fell into a burning pit when the land under his feet subsided in Gansadih Basti. On December 18, 2020, Meena Devi (35), was buried alive in Bastakola when land caved in as she sat for defecation.
Similarly, on May 23, 2017, Babloo Khan and his son Karim Khan were also buried alive at Jharia Indira Chowk while sweeping his roadside garage as land subsided under their feet.
In fact, over 1,4 lakh families living in the fire and subsidence zone of Jharia coalfield are in a catch-22 situation.
If they stay, there is a danger of land subsidence. If they shift to Belagaria township offered by the Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority (JRDA) there is a danger of starvation.
“ I do not know what to do and where to go for the safety of my kids. BCCL has, of course, offered a quarter in Belagaria, around 20 km away from Jharia but in a small quarter we can not adjust with a five-member family,” said Sushila Devi, a resident of Ghanuadih basti.
As per the 2019 survey, a total of 1,04, 946 families are living in 555 fire and subsidence-prone areas. Among them, 32,064 are titleholders of land.
As per Jharia Master Plan, all families had to be rehabilitated in a safe place by February 2021. But only 4500 have been shifted to Belagaria township so far
New Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sandeep Kumar, who is also Managing Director of JRDA, has directed focus on relocating the fire zone residents. “I have directed to improve basic facilities at Belagaria township so that families could be shifted,” he said.
Earlier on January 28, Coal Secretary Anil Jain had also visited Jharia fire zone basti and directed shifting the residents of the danger zone on a priority basis.
However, the main reason of not leaving the fire zone is sources of livelihood. The majority of them are labour class people. In colliery areas, they earn a livelihood by collecting coal but in Belagaria township where JRDA is offering them a quarter has no sources to earn. “ Even for daily wage work, we would have to go 15 km away from Dhanbad town. So rather starvation we prefer dying where we were born,” said Ajay Turi.
However, some families said they are ready to go but JRDA has no quarters to provide them
“ For the life of family members I am ready to shift at any safe place but BCCL is not ready to provide the quarter,” alleged Sunita Devi, a resident of Kumhar Patti basti.
