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As the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha election 2024 approaches, the pressing issue of displacement due to persistent coal mine fires in Jharia has taken centre stage.
JHARIA, DHANBAD: As the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha election 2024 approaches, the pressing issue of displacement due to persistent coal mine fires in Jharia has taken centre stage. Our team from The New Indian visited Jharia ahead of the second voting phase on November 20, with results to follow on November 23, to capture local reactions and understand the real impact of these fires on residents.
Jharia’s coalfields, one of the largest in the Dhanbad district, have faced continuous underground fires since at least 1916. These fires, stemming from natural combustion within coal seams, have rendered many areas hazardous, with frequent accidents caused by land subsidence. Tragically, such incidents have led to numerous deaths as unsuspecting locals are caught off guard by the sudden sinking of land.
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In conversations with residents, one local from Lodna Village, Jharia Block, Dhanbad District voiced concerns about the government’s relocation efforts. Displaced residents are often moved to Belgariya, a township in Dhanbad district meant to provide a safe haven away from Jharia’s burning mines. However, locals say Belgariya lacks basic infrastructure and job opportunities, forcing many to travel back to Jharia for work. “It’s not a relocation if we still have to return to the danger zones every day to earn our livelihood,” one resident emphasized.
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The workforce at Jharia’s coal mines is substantial, with Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, overseeing operations since the nationalization of coal mines in 1972. The reliance on coal mining for survival keeps residents tethered to Jharia, despite the undeniable dangers. Job availability in Belgariya is scarce, leaving displaced workers with no viable alternative for income.
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As voters prepare for the upcoming election, they expect candidates to prioritize a solution to Jharia’s fire-induced displacement crisis. A sustainable approach to resettlement, improved infrastructure in Belgariya, and employment options that negate the need for risky commutes back to the mines are among the primary demands. For Jharia’s residents, this election presents a critical opportunity for new leadership to address long-standing challenges and provide lasting relief from the fires that have plagued the region for over a century.
With the election phase set for November 20, residents are hopeful that a decisive leadership will emerge to finally resolve the deep-rooted issues surrounding displacement, safety, and livelihood in Jharia.
