SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Dec 9: Following continuous poisonous gas emissions for the past eight days, Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) has issued eviction notices to residents of Rajput Basti in the Putki Balihari Colliery Area.
The notices were pasted on the walls of houses by the management under the directive of the General Manager of the Colliery Area, J.K. Mehta. Residents strongly opposed the move and tore the notices in front of security personnel.
DGMS Flags Area as Dangerous
According to BCCL officials, the eviction notice was issued on the recommendation of a Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) expert team, which found the area highly unsafe due to continuous high-level gas emissions recorded during day-and-night assessments.
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DGMS Central Zone Director A.K. Das provided written instructions to BCCL for the immediate evacuation of the affected area.
Alternative Arrangements Provided
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Aditya Ranjan confirmed that the area has become hazardous for residents. Alternative accommodations have been arranged in Belagadia and Karmatand Townships, allowing displaced families to choose their preferred relocation site.
“The main aim of the district administration is to ensure a safe environment and protect the lives and property of residents. Every step is being taken to safeguard those living in dangerous areas,” the DC said.
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Residents Refuse Relocation
Despite the safety measures, residents of Rajput Basti who visited the proposed relocation site in Belagadia Township have refused to move. They argued that BCCL should focus on controlling the gas leakage rather than evicting them from their homes.
Meanwhile, due to the ongoing gas emissions in Rajput Basti and Masjid Muhalla, the DC has deployed two executive magistrates and 40 security personnel to monitor the situation round the clock.
