ANGUL: Amid the absence of dedicated corridors for evacuation of coal from Chhendipada mining area, locals have intensified protest against use of public roads for coal transportation citing pollution and safety concerns.
There are mandatory provisions in the MoUs signed between coal producing companies and the state government, requiring specialised roads for evacuation of coal. However, lack of action by the state government in developing dedicated coal corridors has led to a tense situation in many villages of Chhendipada.
On Saturday night, there was a near-confrontation between residents of Kosala and police over allowing 70 coal-laden trucks of Naini mine through their village. As the agitating villagers blocked the local road in protest, at least 20 platoons of police force were deployed under the supervision of senior district officials to clear the blockade. However, they failed in their attempt due to stiff opposition from residents of Kosala and nearby villages.
Official sources said out of around 40 coal blocks in Chhendipada, 14 have been allocated to mining companies by the Centre. Of these, only five blocks have started coal production. These blocks have been allocated to Nalco (two), Jindal Steel and Power (two) and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (one).
However, none of these mining companies has dedicated coal evacuation infrastructure except Jindal which boasts of a road to Jarapada. Despite starting coal production four years ago, Nalco does not have its own corridor and is using public road to cause acute pollution in the area, said sources.
Similarly, Naini coal block of Singareni started production last year but has no despatch facilities of its own. Now, production has been stopped in the mine as villagers block the local road opposing coal transport through the area. As a result, 70 trucks loaded with coal have been stranded on Kosala road since March 5.
Sources said other mining companies will soon begin coal production from the blocks allocated to them. These are Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation, Vedanta, Neyveli Lignite Corporation, Karnataka Power Corporation and Rungta coal. These companies would have to evacuate coal from their mines to NH-55 at Jarapada.
Sasmita Behera, president of Anchalik Surakhya Manch which is spearheading the protest, said, “It is unfortunate that instead of pressurising mining companies to construct their own coal corridor, the administration is coercing local people to allow use of public roads for the purpose. The state government has to intervene in the matter immediately as a tense situation is prevailing in the area.”
Angul sub-collector Mayadhar Behera said the provision for construction of separate roads for coal evacuation is yet to be implemented. Efforts are underway to persuade villagers of Kosala to allow their road for coal transportation from Naini mine, he added.