3 days ago
Chief secretary Alka Tiwari reviews Jharia master plan
Dhanbad
: State chief secretary Alka Tiwari on Friday visited Dhanbad to review the progress of the Jharia Rehabilitation revised master plan. During her visit, she held a high-level meeting with officials from Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority (JRDA), and the district administration to assess ongoing rehabilitation efforts.
Speaking to the media, Tiwari said that the govt's primary objective is to rehabilitate people affected by underground mine fires in the Jharia region. "Rehabilitation is not just about relocation. Our broader mission is to ensure the affected families achieve financial independence through employment and skill development," she said.
She emphasised that unless people are economically empowered, the goal of sustainable rehabilitation would remain incomplete.
Tiwari directed officials to expedite the rehabilitation process and to create an environment where affected families can start afresh and lead dignified lives.
Highlighting the importance of basic infrastructure in the Belgaria township, where many affected families have been relocated, she said that facilities like hospitals, schools, anganwadi centres, police stations, and post offices must be established at the earliest. She also instructed the district administration to ensure proper road connectivity and transportation between Dhanbad and Belgaria, and to explore avenues for generating self-employment among the relocated population.
Her visit marks a renewed push by the state govt to fast-track the implementation of the Jharia Rehabilitation Plan and improve the living standards of those displaced by decades of coal fires.
