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The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Calcutta High Court seeks response from Bengal government over Deocha Pachami coal project
A division bench of the Calcutta High Court has sought a response from the State Government and the West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) regarding the Deocha Pachami Dewanganj Harisingha (DPDH) coal mining project on Thursday (April 24, 2025). Hearing a petition by economist and activist Prasenjit Bose, the division bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chatterjee directed respondents, including the Government of West Bengal and the WBPDCL, to file affidavits within three weeks, and a reply, if any, within a week thereafter. WBPDCL, the executing agency, is currently in the process of excavating the 80 metres to 250 metres thick basalt layer over the DPDH coal block in West Bengal's Birbhum. Following West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's announcement at the Bengal Global Business Summit, basalt mining work started at the DPDH coal block on February 6 this year, amidst resistance from local villagers. In his petition, petitioner Mr Bose alleged that the respondents, including the West Bengal government and the WBPDCL, have 'reneged on their legal and contractual obligations' and have 'pursued a confounding trajectory of basalt mining in an area allotted for a coal block.' 'A government notification concerning the coal project issued in November 2021 describes the entire project in a certain manner. After the Chief Minister's announcement in February this year, officials connected to this project have made several statements about the project plan in the media, which do not tally with the initial notification,' Mr. Bose told The Hindu. He added that no official notification has been issued as on date, either for the local population at DPDH or the public at large, specifying the current nature of the mining activities or the environmental and other official clearances obtained. 'There is no information on this coal mining project in the public domain. The people are completely in the dark over what is happening at the DPDH area. There has been no public hearing with the residents whose lands are being acquired for this project. While many have agreed to sell their land in exchange for compensation and jobs, a large section of people have not consented,' Mr. Bose said. 'The question is why a power development corporation is undertaking the work to mine basalt after entering into agreements with the Central government on account of the coal deposits. Basalt mining is a separate project, and that work should be in concurrence with the prior agreement,' he added. During the hearing, Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam cited a past judgment in the Madras High Court in connection with the Salem Highway Project. 'There are a couple of decisions which say whether post-facto environment clearance can be granted or if it should be prior,' he observed during the hearing on Thursday (April 24, 2025).
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee slams anti-state propaganda, stresses harmony for development
SALBONI (WEST MIDNAPORE): CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed the barrage of negative propaganda against Bengal, showcasing the 1,600-MW JSW power plant in Salboni and stressing the importance of unity and harmony in development. 'The synergy committee that we have formed has already approved investments of Rs 1,000 crore in the last 15 days. Five big companies are coming to the industrial park in Raghunathpur,' Banerjee said while inaugurating the Salboni plant. A hospital project — announced by Narayana Health founder-chairman Devi Shetty during the Bengal Global Business Summit — would be inaugurated later this month, she added. Banerjee also gave details of a 660-MW power plant in Sagardighi that was nearing completion and the planned projects in Durgapur, Bakreswar and Santaldih, questioning the anti-Bengal propaganda and how these projects were taking shape if nothing ever happened in the state. 'You can criticise me but cannot ignore me,' Banerjee said, adding that investments of Rs 13 lakh crore — out of the proposals worth Rs 19 lakh crore unveiled during BGBS — were already taking shape. JSW Group chairman Sajjan Jindal backed up Banerjee's claims, speaking about the development he was witnessing in Salboni, which he last visited 10 years ago. 'Everyone is very positive about what is happening in Bengal,' he said, referring to other seniors in his team who made the trip with him. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Banerjee brought up the issue of unity and harmony and its role in development. 'India is a vast country with many religions, languages, cultures, food habits and customs. We are a big family and we have to strengthen it, not divide it,' she added. Banerjee has harped on this issue several times in the backdrop of the Murshidabad violence and the protests against the centre's new waqf law. The CM reminded the audience of Bengal's 'load-shedding state' moniker when the Left Front was in office, contrasting it with the 24x7 power availability now. Rs 76,000 crore has been spent on infrastructure development since 2011 to ensure adequate generation, transmission and distribution of power. More than Rs 48,000 crore would be invested in the near future, she said, mentioning that the number of connections since 2011 had doubled to 2.3 crore.
