Newz Desk, Durgapur/Andal, July 30: Five years after a major land subsidence forced residents of Harishpur village in Andal to seek rehabilitation, uncertainty continues over their permanent resettlement. Villagers remain dissatisfied, insisting that they will not accept flats offered by Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) and instead want houses with land.
West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul on Thursday held a meeting with residents at the rehabilitation project site near Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport in Andal. The meeting was attended by Raniganj MLA Partha Ghosh, officials of the Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA), ECL and the district administration.
The rehabilitation issue dates back to July 16, 2020, when severe land subsidence struck Harishpur village, causing the ground to sink and damaging several houses. Tarun Gope then 38, was one of nearly 25 home-owners who lost their homes overnight in Harishpur town, in the Andal block of West Bengal’s Paschim Bardhaman district. The subsidence—movement, sloping or sinking of the ground caused by readjustments or collapses in underground mine areas—forced 400 people to flee the village looking for shelter elsewhere. Since then, affected families have been demanding permanent rehabilitation. Their agitation intensified to the extent that villagers boycotted the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections in protest over the delay in resettlement.
During Thursday’s meeting, residents reiterated that they were unwilling to relocate to the ECL-built apartment complex near the airport. They argued that the flats are too small and unsuitable for their needs. Instead, they demanded rehabilitation in the form of independent houses with land, saying such an arrangement would provide a dignified and sustainable future.
Following the meeting, Minister Agnimitra Paul said the matter would be discussed with ECL authorities, the Chief Minister and the Union Coal Minister. She assured residents that efforts would be made to arrive at an acceptable rehabilitation plan while safeguarding the interests of the affected families.
Despite the assurances, villagers maintained that they would continue their movement until a permanent and acceptable rehabilitation package is implemented. They said discussions alone would not resolve the issue unless the government agrees to provide land along with houses instead of apartment flats.
Residents also pointed out that previous attempts by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to persuade them to accept the flats had failed, as their demand for land-based rehabilitation has remained unchanged.
