SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Aug 23: Rattled by unabated subsidence incidents in the Jharia fire zone residential areas, the Jharia Coalfield Bachao Samiti has shot off a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) demanding immediate safety of people living in the dangerous zone.
Samiti’s president Rajiv Sharma, in a memorandum, has asked for setting up a relief camp immediately for the families as a major tragedy may occur at any time in the fire zone and subsidence-prone areas due to monsoon rains.
DC Varun Ranjan is also the managing director of the Jharia Rehabilitation Development Authority (JRDA) meant for rehabilitating fire zone residents to a safe place.
The Jharia Coalfield Bachao Samiti has pointed out that on July 29 Parmeswar Chouhan (40) died in Ghanudih fire zone subsidence. On August 3, Jiya Kumari (11) and Rinku Devi (35) were burnt in an overburden (OB) dump. Later, Jiya Kumari died during treatment. On August 12, a woman Godhar resident fell unconscious from poisonous gas which began billowing out from a fire hole all of a sudden. One week later several houses were damaged at late night in the Sijua-Jogta colliery areas following subsidence.
“The Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) management looks not serious about saving the life of these affected people and has left them to the mercy of god to survive,” said Rajiv Sharma in his memorandum to the DC.
He said over 10 lakh residents living in the Jharia mines fire zone have high hopes from the district administration as well as the state government for checking such subsidence incidents in the region.
The Jharia Coalfield Bachao Samiti has asked the DC to set up relief camps for such beleaguered residents and provide them with Rs 5,000 per month till they are settled at a safe place.
The Samiti has also suggested the DC to level the deserted open-cast mines and settle the residents of the fire zone in that place so that they do not face a livelihood crisis. The Samiti has also demanded action against the responsible BCCL officers for the loss of life in subsidence recently.
