Dhanbad: A total of 70 families have been relocated from subsidence-hit Tandabadi village to Belgaria township so far, with the support of district administration and police, the Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) said in a statement.
Fear looms large among villagers as cracks continue to appear in the ground, raising concerns about further subsidence incidents. Around 25 houses have been swallowed by the earth till date, leaving dozens of families displaced.
The company said led by chairman-cum-managing director Manoj Kumar Agrawal, it prioritises the safety and rehabilitation of displaced families. The rehabilitated families are being provided with improved housing facilities, along with access to drinking water, electricity, roads and other civic amenities, it added.
Efforts are under way to relocate the remaining affected families in a phased manner. Awareness campaigns and counselling programmes are being organised in vulnerable areas to encourage residents to relocate, the company stated.
However, many affected villagers have accused the district administration and the BCCL of failing to provide relief. Shankar Bhuiyan (name changed) said the March 31 land subsidence buried several houses and killed Manohar Oraon (60), his daughter Geet (16) and neighbour Sarita Devi (45). Families are yet to receive compensation.
SDO Lokesh Barange said, “Talks are under way with BCCL officials to speed up rehabilitation.”
