Sat Feb 15 17:03:15 UTC 2025: ## West Bengal’s Mega Coal Project Sparks Displacement Fears
**Birbhum, West Bengal –** The launch of the Deocha-Pachami coal mining project, touted as India’s largest coal block, has ignited concerns among local villagers in West Bengal’s Birbhum district. While the West Bengal government promotes the project as a major economic boon, creating an estimated 100,000 jobs and ending power shortages, residents fear displacement and the destruction of their livelihoods.
Mining operations began on February 6th, impacting seven villages and approximately 2,000 families, many belonging to Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes. The project, worth nearly ₹35,000 crore, involves the extraction of an estimated 1,240 million tonnes of coal and 2,675 million tonnes of basalt across 3,540 acres.
While the West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd. (WBPDCL) claims to have secured consent from landowners for 95% of the private land involved, villagers express anxieties over forced acquisitions and inadequate compensation. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, addressing these concerns, promised ₹39 lakh per acre compensation and government jobs for one family member per household. Additional benefits, including monthly stipends for minors until they reach 18 and relocation assistance with land and community facilities, were also announced.
However, skepticism remains. Villagers report a lack of transparency, claiming that applications for compensation and job placements submitted years ago are pending. Activists allege that the government’s land ownership update camps are merely a tactic to facilitate land acquisition, neglecting the villagers’ needs for better infrastructure and quality of life. They also express concern about the job offers being contingent upon the current ruling party.
Economic and environmental concerns also shadow the project. Critics argue that the project’s economic viability was questioned decades ago, and that the focus on basalt extraction overshadows the coal mining aspect. The lack of access to a new report by the Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited further fuels the lack of transparency claims.
The project’s commencement has already caused disruptions, with decreased school attendance due to safety concerns and the displacement of local flora and fauna. While the government assures that tree translocation is underway, the future for the affected villagers remains uncertain, with ongoing protests likely if grievances remain unaddressed.
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