As mining begins in “India’s largest” coal block, locals are stuck.

• The Deocha-Pachami coal mining project, worth nearly ₹35,000 crore, is a major project in West Bengal, India, affecting seven villages and about 2,000 families.

• The project, which spans 3,540 acres, is a significant concern for villagers, who fear land acquisition forcibly, displacement, and livelihood disruption.

• The project is backed by the West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd. (WBPDCL), which is executing the project.

• The project is a significant part of the country’s coal reserves, with an estimated reserve of 1,240 million tonnes of coal and 2,675 MT of basalt.

• The government has started daily assistance camps for landowners in the Mohammad Bazar block, offering land ownership documents updated to reflect changes like an owner’s death or inheritance.

• Despite the compensation package, there has been no sign of job appointments for around 3,000 families who submitted their land ownership documents to the WBPDCL.

• The project has been met with resistance from locals, who are concerned about the lack of job opportunities and the government’s disregard for their needs.

• The project is expected to end the power cut crisis for the next 100 years, provide lands, houses, schools, transport, and other essential services to the local community.