Disaster Mismanagement

 

 

Gorelal Bhuiyan still can’t believe that his daughter, Rinki, is not alive. Rinki had died due to land subsidence while she was sitting on the string cot in her tin shade house.. Gorelal’s left leg was badly damaged in the accident and later doctor told him that it is of no use to him. A streak of fear engulfs his eyes while recalling the incident. It is not an isolated story of Gorelal, but entire Jharia coalfield region lives in a state of constant fear. Explosion, gas leakage, accident, subsidence and death are their regular diet.

Jharia has been enveloped in smoke emanating from mine fires for more than five decades. However, it is actually the fringe areas in the coalfield that are affected by the fire and not Jharia town. However, both scientists and officials seem to have unanimous view that if the fire is not contained, it will be difficult to save the Jharia town.

According to CMRI (Central Mining Research Institute), Dhanbad, 34.97 square km in Jharia coalfield region is plagued with subsidence. In the last seven months Indra Chowk an the outskirts of the city almost caved in faced subsidence twice. Few months ago shanties on Idlipada-Pirpada Road caved in 20-22 feet deep in the ground. Malgada colliery witnessed similar incident 16 months ago.

Subsidence is not a new thing for the people of the region. However, last decade it has marked sharp rise in such instances. The trend also confirms that fire is slowly approaching where there is population. Husenabad Rawani, Basti, Kali dam at lodna, Chalchalia, Bhulan Berrari and in Baniahir at Jharia-Sindri road have been deeply affected due to subsidence. Throwing more light on subsidence, Madan Khanna, secretary, Jharia Coalfield Bachao Samiti, relates it to sand stowing from coal mafia. “Private operators did not seal the abandoned pit properly. Later, the void created led to the filling of methane resulting in explosion and land subsidence.” There is underground fire in the coal mines from decades. The coal is turning into ash creating hollow pockets inside the ground. Fringe areas in Jharia are deeply affected from the land subsidence. Villagers residing in these mining areas face constant threat to life. This has resulted in eviction of thousands of people. The gravity of the situation can be gauged from the statement of Ganesh Bhuiyan, retired staff of BCCL who says, “More than 4000 people have fled away from Bagdihi to Baniahir owing to fire in the mines. He further says, “Many of the houses started spewing noxious gases and cracks erupted in the walls. The ground became so hot that it was impossible to live.” The situation in Madhuband, Kharkhari, Gajlitand of Katras, Putki, Balihari, Kustor, Bhalgora and Patherdih is on verge of disaster.

The problem of coal sink fire is deeply intertwined with illegal mining. The region has been a hotbed of illegal mining from decades. There are many abandoned pits in the area where illegal mining takes place in broad daylight. The problem may have different faces and Jharia, too, is no exception. The problem of illegal mining has reached to such an extent that it seems to threaten the infrastructure vital for the city life. The fire enveloping the region has threatened the safety of railway track. A letter dated 5-04-2002 by the then Chairman of Railway Board IIMS Rana to N.K. Sinha, which is in possession of TSI, confirms the above fact. The letter clearly states, “A number of collieries are adjacent to the Eastern Railway. It is observed that fire in the mines has been spreading due to inadequate filling of mines and these fires have slowly travelled very close to railway tracks and in many cases have been spread under the track. In order to extract maximum amount of coal, companies have overlooked the safety provisions led down by DGMS (Director General of Mines Safety). As per Mining Regulation Act-1957, working within 45 meters of railway track is completely prohibited…” Acknowledging the problem Director, BCCL, S.N Katiyar, told TSI, “Sooner or later these railway lines will have to be shifted. We have already dismantled Dhanbad-Patherdih railway line in the city. There is problem of fire in the coalfield region and when it endangers the safety of the track, we stop it by making a water pool or filling the sand. In Jharia Action Plan there is provision of shifting of the rail lines along the non-colliery zones.” Relocation of Jharia has been mired in controversy as people of Jharia town are resisting any such move. It has also taken political overtones. Chandrashekhar Dubey, MP, Jharia, told TSI, “BCCL is duping the people and relocation is merely eyewash.

The company wants to evict Jharia as its eyes are on virgin coal a reserve on which town is sitting.” Residents of Jharia allege on the company that it is deliberately creating panic in the people. Gopal Agrawal from Jharia Coalfield Bachao Samiti avers, “We do not have faith in the company. It has duped us in past. The new town is being relocated to Belgaria. We have our homes and business in this town; how we can go to leave in wilderness.” Rajesh Mishra, resident of Jharia town, makes it clearer, “We have a family of eight members and they have provided a single room with a kitchen and toilet. How can I go there?” S.N Katiyar, Director, BCCL, says, “There are problems about definition of family. Government is considering it. The issue is very complicated as it also involves those people who are residing illegally on the BCCL areas.” There are a total of 22,300 houses located in the area critically endangered by subsidence and fire. Brinda Karat, CPI(M) leader, says, “Many authorities are involved in the problem and BCCL has utterly failed to disentangle the problem. This is why it should be looked into by PMO and Jharia should be declared national disaster.”

It is also a fact that it is very difficult to douse coal sink fire. Gurdeep Singh, former director, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad says, “It is very difficult to douse the fire so attempt should be made to extract as much coal as can be saved."

Bokapahadi is still burning. Few paces away Md Idris was sitting on the cot waiting, perhaps, for the inevitable. "If proper care is taken, Jharia town can be saved from the fire. there is no doubt about that"

T.N. Singh

Former Director, CMRI

How grave is the situation?

There is fire and it is really dangerous. It threatens the safety of one lakh people directly. There is active mining area of 285 sq km. I had conducted a study in 1997-98. I toured all 39 villages that were completely on fire.

How much danger does this pose to Jharia town?

See, the entire mining area is 456 sq km and Jharia occupies just about 3-4 sq km. If proper care is taken, it can be saved from the fire. There is no doubt about that.

People say that for Jharia, underground mining is preferable to open cast?

That is not true. Open cast mining has more productivity all over world.

Is it necessary to evict people?

You will be surprised to know that the town in itself has 230 million tones of coke of which, 50 million tones are prime coking coal. Here is the richest density of coal in the world. Jharia is in danger as the fire encompasses it from all sides. I had made a suggestion years ago. A well defined displacement and rehabilitation plan should be made and first priority should be given to those whose houses are burning. It is also a fact that people of Jharia are businessmen who can’t operate business in a desert. This is where the government has failed to diagnose the problem.