Singrauli (Madhya Pradesh): Nearly 50,000 residents of the Morwa area in Singrauli are set to lose their homes for vast reserves of coal in the place. Over 22,000 houses will be demolished to dig out coal from the reserves, official sources said.
The government has to spend over 24,000 crore for the rehabilitation of the residents. According to reports, 2,724 million tonnes of coal lie under Morwa. The central government has allowed Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) to go for mining.
NCL is ready to acquire 927 hectares. The displacement of residents is going to take place because of the extension of Jayant coal mines.
The mining work is going to take place within the residential area. The residents of wards 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the Morwa area will be displaced. NCL, a sister concern of Coal India, is working out a formula for compensation.
Singrauli coal fields are spread over 2202 square kms. According to official sources, the process for rehabilitation will begin soon. NCL will impose extra taxes on coal to meet the expenses on rehabilitation of residents.
According to reports, it is going to be the biggest displacement in the state. According to a public relations officer of NCL Ramvijay Singh, if it is not taken over now, the Jayant Mines will be closed in two and three years. There is limited coal in the mine, and if the mine is closed, NTPC will face closure, he said.
According to Singh, 98% of coal for NTPC comes from Jayant mine. But those who earn livelihoods through small businesses are worried about their future.
A shop owner, Rajesh Agrahari, said he did not know whether the government would give him compensation. Small businessmen held demonstrations outside the NCL headquarters. But the management did not give them any assurance about whether they would get any compensation.
Collector Chandrashekhar Shukla said NCL would carry out displacement in the Morwa area. The survey is almost over, and the NCL will give compensation on the collector’s directive, he said.
The compensation will be the maximum in the next three years, he said. The rest of the information is available with NCL, Shukla said.
