Coal mine production on verge of closure, rural residents in uproar to keep jobs

 

 

 

The Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RRVUNL) subsidiary Parsa East and Kanta Basan (PEKB) Coal Mine in the Udaipur tehsil of the district is on the brink of shutting down production. This has caused concern among the local rural residents who are employed in the mine and rely on it for their livelihoods. In order to reinstate their jobs, they have decided to once again protest. Residents from nine villages including Paras, Basan, Salhi, Fatehpur, Ghatabarra, Tara, and Janardanpur gathered at village Salhi turning, located on Bilaspur-Ambikapur Highway on Tuesday morning to discuss further strategies. They have demanded the government and administration to keep the mine operational, and have also warned of intensifying their protests if their demands are not met.

 

The villagers stated that for the past year, they have been requesting the government and administration, including the Chief Ministers of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, to provide the necessary land for the expansion of the PEKB. However, their pleas have not been heard yet. As a result, their jobs and livelihoods are now at stake. Participating in the protest, residents employed by the contractors of the mine have already begun shifting their machinery. Since there will no longer be any equipment, it is evident that Vinod Porte and his colleagues will also be worried about preserving their jobs. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’, Kashi Ram, who had given his land for the mine and was living happily with his family in Basan, has also become anxious about job security. Kashi Ram lamented, “I gave my land for this mine, and in return, I got a house in Basan and a job in the mine. The mine has been running for at least 30 years, so if it doesn’t continue, how will I support my family? I won’t be able to find any other employment.” In Chhattisgarh’s Surguja district’s Udaipur Vikas Khand, the allocation of the PEKB Coal Mine to RRVUNL took place in 2007, and coal production has been taking place for the past ten years. Not only the families affected by the mine, but also the local people in the surrounding areas depend on it for their livelihoods. There are also various developmental activities being carried out in the area for essential amenities.

 

Despite this, due to the selfishness and politicization of certain individuals in the state, the land required for the mine has not been provided by the government’s administration to date. As a result, the mining company has initiated layoffs along with the contractors. The locals are suffering as a consequence. Ramesh Yadav from Ghatbarra, who has been working in the mine for the past five years, said, “Since the mine’s proper operation and expansion require land, some NGOs are spreading incorrect information to the media, nationally and internationally, in an attempt to shut down our only project. The truth is that if the land is not provided on time, the livelihoods of thousands of people will be affected, and the ongoing development work will come to a halt.” “With the closure of the mine, all the free facilities provided by the company will also end, which means we will have to face difficulties in education, health, and drinking water for our families. Therefore, today, we, the village residents, have demanded immediate availability of land for the operation of the Basan mine and the quick start of the new mine from the Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan so that our jobs at the old mine can continue. We also urge for immediate employment opportunities for those affected by the new mine,” said Shivratan Singh from Tara village. It is noteworthy that despite the Rajasthan government’s allocation of the PEKB coal block to RRVUNL and the state government’s approval, the forest department has failed to provide the necessary land for the mine. As a result, the villagers have decided to fight back to secure their jobs.