Loyabad: Union Coal Secretary Hitler Singh on Tuesday visited the fire-affected zone near Pit No. 6 of Bansjoda Colliery to assess the ongoing underground blaze and gas leakage. Accompanied by regional and colliery officials, Singh inspected the site and was briefed on the dangerous situation by ground personnel.
During the visit, displaced residents, who have been waiting over five years for rehabilitation, raised slogans and staged a protest demanding immediate relocation. Despite repeated visits by high-ranking officials—including the Union Coal Minister and other senior bureaucrats—their demands have yet to be fulfilled.
In response, the Coal Secretary assured the crowd that rehabilitation to Belgadia would be completed within a month, adding that transportation arrangements like buses and autos would be made. He noted that the cabinet had cleared the rehabilitation proposal on June 25, and all timelines and procedures have been finalized.
However, the displaced villagers rejected the Belgadia relocation plan, insisting they be settled nearby. “We will risk our lives, but we won’t go to Belgadia,” said Baidhnath Singh, citing dangerous ground subsidence and gas leaks near Santosh Bhuiya’s house. Locals including Kamu Prasad, Shyam Sundar Vishwakarma, Rohit Kumar, and others joined in the protest.
Present during the visit were Chowpra-Sijua GM Nirjhar Chakraborty, PO Anil Kumar Verma, Manager Kamlesh Kumar, Personnel Manager Nilesh Kumar Joshi, Nodal Officer Mukesh Kumar, Surveyor S.K. Mitra, and other senior officials from the headquarters. The visit has once again revived hope among the displaced families—though skepticism remains.
