In a significant development, the controversial Gare Pelma Sector-I coal mining project in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district has been put on hold. This decision comes after sustained protests from local villagers and a violent clash that injured several police personnel.
Administration and Company Back Down
The district administration of Raigarh and the project promoter, Jindal Power Limited (JPL), have moved to suspend the ambitious coal block project. This climbdown was triggered by an 18-day-long sit-in protest by residents from 14 affected villages and a serious altercation with law enforcement on December 27.
The tension escalated when villagers, opposing a public hearing held on December 8, blocked the Libra village road by felling trees. They vowed not to allow any vehicle movement until the hearing was formally cancelled.
Violence Leads to Formal Withdrawal
The situation turned violent last week, resulting in what authorities described as a "life-threatening attack" on police and company staff. Several individuals were seriously injured, and vehicles at a coal handling plant were set ablaze, causing substantial financial losses to JPL.
In response, Raigarh District Collector Mayank Chaturvedi wrote to the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) on Sunday. He cited the volatile law-and-order situation and the continuous demands from villagers to cancel the hearing, urging that no further proceedings be initiated for now.
Following this, on Monday, JPL formally informed the collector that it was withdrawing its application for the public hearing related to the project. The company stated it was respecting public sentiment and the current circumstances, adding that no further action would be taken without obtaining the support of the local communities.
Project Details and Ongoing Dialogue
The proposed open-cast coal mine was to span over 3,020 hectares in the Tamnar block and had a planned capacity of 15 million tonnes per annum. It faced fierce resistance over environmental concerns and allegations of improper public consultation.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Gharghoda, Durga Prasad Adhikary, confirmed that a first-round meeting with protesting villagers was held on Sunday. The administration is now proceeding with a proposal to cancel the December 8 hearing officially.
"We will inform all stakeholders about further developments," the SDM said, assuring locals that no project-related proceedings would occur for the time being. He appealed for peace and promised a transparent, legally sound consultation process in the future.
