Lok Sabha
There is no mine fire at present below Jharia and no plan to shift Jharia town. Mine fire prone areas like Kujama, Lodna, Simlabahal, Ena, Rajapur and some of the localities around where these mines have been identified are to be shifted for safety of the persons residing there.
As per the recommendations of scientific studies and report of high level committee of Ministry of Coal, it is planned to shift people from endangered area of BCCL identified as uncontrollable and requires immediate shifting.
There is a plan of shifting 65,300 houses comprising BCCL houses 36,208, private houses 15,571, encroachers houses 12,719 and others 802 in a period of twenty years. The shifting is required for safety of the persons residing in the endangered areas.
Hydraulic sand stowing has already been done under various schemes, formulated and approved under environmental measures and subsidence control under Department of Coal. This would help a few sites to be stabilized within the command of Jharia Coalfield.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Coal & Mines, Dr. Dasari Narayana Rao in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
(Release ID :2755)