Newz Desk, Durgapur/Jamuria: Concerns over the possible disappearance of 32 villages and settlements have intensified in Haripur following the proposal for a new open-cast coal mining project by Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL). Local residents and activists have launched a campaign under the slogan “Save Villages, Save Collieries”, opposing the proposed project and raising concerns over its possible impact on settlements, employment and the local environment.
A large public convention was organised in Haripur to discuss the proposed mining project and chalk out the future course of the movement. According to the organisers, around 4,218 hectares of land across the Pandaveswar, Andal and Jamuria areas have been identified for open-cast mining. They claimed that in the first phase, mining activities are proposed over nearly 2,100 hectares. Participants at the convention alleged that implementation of the project could affect 32 villages, besides several underground mines, markets, schools and hospitals in the area. Local residents have expressed apprehension that large-scale mining could lead to displacement and disrupt the social and economic fabric of the region.
A struggle committee was also formed at the convention to coordinate the movement. Advocate Soumen Mitra was named its convenor, while Subhash Bauri, Nilima Ruidas, Sarathi Soren, Haradhan Gop and Mohammad Sabir were included in the committee. Soumen Mitra said the committee would initially conduct awareness campaigns across the affected villages. Subsequently, the members plan to approach the district administration and ECL authorities to place their concerns and chalk out the next phase of the movement.
Speakers at the convention claimed that several villages in the region had previously lost their existence due to open-cast mining. They also expressed concern that if some existing underground mines are converted into open-cast mines under the proposed project, it could affect the deployment of workers as well as the local economy.
Participants further argued that any expansion of open-cast mining in the future could put additional pressure on settlements and the environment over a wider area. The convention also discussed alternative methods of coal extraction. Speakers called for the possibility of extracting coal from underground mines using modern technologies to be examined, with the aim of reducing the impact on populated areas and the environment.
With the proposed ECL project becoming a fresh point of contention, efforts to build public opinion against the project have gained momentum in Haripur. The direction and scale of the movement in the coming days are now being closely watched.
