Jharia burns due to reckless mining

Jharia, Bihar: Fires has been burning in the coal fields of Jharia for more than a hundred years now, destroying the coal and the entire landscape.

It's a terrible choice to make: whether to save the precious coal deposits rated at $100 billion or relocate Jharia? Many say since the fire cannot be put out, Jharia must go.

"Most important thing is that once they move out, land development and acquisition will become easier. So, coal productivity from this place can increase very fast. And this is absolutely precious coking coal," Partho Bhatacharjee, CMD of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, says.

The Jharia Bachao Andolan Samiti feels that this is the very reason why sufficient efforts were not made to put out the fires. In fact, in every underground seam, at least one or two fires are raging.

The surface of the earth is sinking, destabilising the structures that rest on it. One of the worst-affected places is Lodhna. On the ground, the earth is burning. The surface temperature is considerably high. One can see cracks here and there and poisonous gases escaping through them.

More than 500 people live on this burning ground. Closer to Jharia is Indira Chowk. So hot is the surface of the earth there that people use it to boil water.

Official estimates put the total number of affected people at a staggering 3 lakh. "The life that we lead is worse than animals. We live in constant fear," says a Jharia tribal.

Many of them have been there for generations. Shifting out to a purer, safer zone is a luxury they simply cannot afford.

"I sustain my family by give tuitions. How do you expect me to move out? Where do I go," ask Dayanand Paswan, a teacher.

Surji Devi, a resident of Lodhna, however says she will move out if the 'company' gives her a home. "Otherwise, where do we go?" she asks.

Even as BCCL is drawing up rehabilitation plans, the people of Jharia are putting up a resistance. The $2 billion rehabilitation plan has to be cleared by the Union Cabinet. In a way, that is not much money, considering the fact that the coal deposit in the region is worth $100 billion.

A bustling railway line that once connected Jharia to the outside world has already been removed by railway authorities despite protests by the local. And that's probably marks the beginning of the end for this coal town.

Yet, there are many who feel the fire can be put out and Jharia need not be shifted to take the coal out. In fact, the Jharia Coalfield Bachao Samiti has approached the Supreme Court to fight their case against the government and the coalfield management.

"Jharia can be saved if there is a will of the government and coal management," Sanjib Kanti Baksi, the petitioner, says.