Context: The villagers around the Deocha Pachami proposed coal mining project got an interesting handbill from the Trinamool Congress leadership. The handbill with photograph of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says that after the victory in Lok Sabha polls, the Trinamool Congress will ensure a pakka house for the people.
About Deocha Pachami coal mine project
- Location - Mohamadbazar Community Development Block of Birbhum district, West Bengal, India.
- It is considered to be the largest coal block in the country
- Estimated reserves - around 1,198 million tonnes of coal and 1,400 million cubic metres of basalt
- Geographical area – It spreads over an area of 12.31 sq. km, which is around 3,400 acres.
- Affected Population - There are around 12 villages in the project area with a population of over 21,000, comprising Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Challenges pertaining to Coal Block
Residents V/S Government
- Project is facing protests over land acquisition and process involved. About 43% population in the area which falls under the proposed coal mine is inhabited by tribals. Activists insists that under the Forest Right Act,2006 there should be gram sabhas in tribal dominated areas that can only give consent for land acquisition. They allege that the due process has not been followed.
- In 2022, the State government announced a revised relief & rehabilitation (R&R) package for those willing to give up land where a person having land in the area will get double its market value along with 100% solatium as land cost ( i.e. around ₹13 lakhs per bigha).
- The State government added that one member of every family will be provided job as junior police constable.
Health Issues
- Illegal stone quarrying and crushing is being practiced at rampant pace. Doctors in the nearby medical facilities have confirmed the reporting of cases of silicosis in the area.
- Experts believe that these cases are under-reported due to pressure from owners of quarries and crushers.
SILICOSIS
- Silicosis is a long-term lung disease caused by inhaling large amounts of crystalline silica dust, usually over many years.
- Silica is a substance naturally found in certain types of stone, rock, sand and clay. Working with these materials can create a very fine dust that can be easily inhaled.
- Once inside the lungs, it causes swelling (inflammation) and gradually leads to areas of hardened and scarred lung tissue (fibrosis). Lung tissue that's scarred in this way doesn't function properly and it becomes a life-threatening disease.
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