SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Aug 5: Rattled by series of subsidence incidents in residential areas of Jharia fire zone, Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Singh has ordered immediate shifting of the affected families to a safe place on a priority basis.
As per the latest survey conducted by Jharia Rehabilitation Development Authority (JRDA), a total of 1,04,964 families are residing in the dangerous fire zone. Among them, over 32,064 families are legal landowners while 72,882 families are unauthorized residents.
In the last one week subsidence in Liloripathara basti of Lodna, Nawagar, Jharia East have triggered panic among people. Especially three subsidences in one month in Liloripathra Kalimandir Basti in Lodna colliery of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) have robbed the sleep of families.
A colliery project officer of Bharat Coking Coal Limited A Kundu ( Lodna area) said that the entire area falls under fire zone and residents have already been served notice for eviction. “In rainy season subsidence incidents are natural in the fire zone,” he said.
However, the deputy commissioner (DC), who has assumed charge recently, has taken subsidence incidents in residential areas of the Jharia mines fire zone seriously and directed concerned officers for shifting them to a safe place on a priority basis.
The DC along with senior officers of the district administration on Thursday visited the fire-affected Jharia. “Families living in fire and subsidence prone areas of Jharia mines fire region have to be rehabilitated at a safe place in phase-wise. The aim of the state government and the district administration is to provide all basic facilities to displaced families at Belagaria Township where Jharia affected families are being allotted quarters,” the DC said.
The DC, who is also managing director of Jharia Rehabilitation Development Authority (JRDA) along with senior officers also visited Belagaria township and assured the displaced families of solving the water and power problem of the colony. Belagaria Township has been constructed for the families displaced from the Jharia fire zone.
The central government formed the ‘Jharia Master Plan’ in 2009 for shifting over 1 lakh families living in the Jharia mines fire zone to a safe place by 2021. But till date, merely 5000 families have been shifted at Belagaria township meant for Jharia fire displaced persons.
Interestingly, despite the danger to life and property majority of families living in the danger zone are reluctant to leave the place saying that there are no sources of livelihood at Belagaria Township.
