Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) has been warning residents through public address systems in Itapara, cautioning them against building houses on land earmarked for its mega coal mining project. The Itapara Open Cast Project (OCP) commenced in 2023.
The announcements, broadcast from vehicles moving through the area, warn: “Excavation work for the Itapara Mega Coal Mining Project will begin soon in virgin coal-bearing zones near Asansol. Illegal encroachers will not be entitled to any compensation. Be alert before purchasing plots or constructing houses here.”
Villagers in Amdiha, Baliapur, Itapara and Bela are being urged to vacate the land and refrain from erecting permanent structures.
ECL, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, holds underground mining rights in the Raniganj Coalfield leasehold area. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has deployed armed personnel to safeguard both open cast and underground mines.
The Itapara Mega Project, considered a flagship initiative in Salanpur, is being executed with the support of a private Mine Developer and Operator (MDO). The outsourcing partner has been tasked with excavating around 3.5 million tonnes of coal annually from the OCP.
Company officials now fear rising costs, as compensation for houses is significantly higher than for land. Residents are reportedly rushing to construct houses on their plots, transporting building materials before ECL dismantles roads and infrastructure to facilitate the expansion of mining operations.