Activists, politicians seek court-monitored probe into Deocha Pachami project
Addressing mediapersons, economist-activist Prasenjit Bose, Jai Kisan Andolan's leader Avik Saha, CPI(M) leader Goutam Ghosh, and Congress state general secretary Ali Imran Ramz, and tribal residents from the area demanded an inquiry.
'There is no coal mine at Deocha Pachami Dewanganj Harinsinga (DPDH) yet. The coal block, allotted to West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL) in December 2019, required a mining lease application and a plan by September 2021 – which has not been submitted till date. This is a breach of the allotment agreement with the Union Coal Ministry,' said Prosenjit Bose.
'A global Expression of Interest (EOI) to pick a coal mine developer was issued in December 2024 and extended to April 2025. The outcome is unknown,' Bose added.
They accused WBPDCL of 'salami slicing' the proposal to secure a Category B2 clearance from State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) by first seeking approval for 44 acres and later 12 acres (4.856 ha) in October 204, thereby avoiding an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and public hearing.
CPI(M) leader Goutam Ghosh said the risk of a coal mining project in the area was 'very heavy'. 'There will be water crisis, and farmlands will be heavily compromised, resulting in the loss of livelihood. Further, out of the total number of residents in the Deocha Pachami area, 40 per cent are from the Scheduled Castes. In the Global Business Summit, employment was guaranteed for these residents, but to date, only 1300 people have been given jobs,' claimed Ghosh.
Avik Saha, a leader of Jai Kisan Andolan, alleged a broader pattern of mineral profiteering at the site.
Jagannath Prabhu, a resident, said that 'Only 20 to 30 per cent of people here have actually received jobs… roads are terrible, there are no hospital services, and schools are in shambles.'
(Parthivee Mukherji is an intern at the Kolkata office of The Indian Express)
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