SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Dec 15: Jamshedpur East JD(U) MLA Saryu Roy on Monday held Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) and the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) responsible for the leakage of poisonous gas in the residential Kenduadih area of the Putki Balihari Colliery.
Roy visited the gas-affected Rajput Basti in the Kenduadih Colliery area, inspected the relief camp and interacted with residents who have been impacted by the incident.
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Deaths and health impact
Poisonous carbon monoxide gas has reportedly been emanating in Rajput Basti for the past 13 days. The incident has claimed the lives of two women so far, while around 50 people, including women and children, have fallen ill due to gas exposure.
Residents have been living in fear as the emission continues, raising serious concerns over safety and the effectiveness of preventive measures taken by the authorities.
Lapses in safety and mining practices
Speaking to mediapersons at the Dhanbad Circuit House, Roy said DGMS is entrusted with ensuring mine safety but has failed to discharge its responsibility.
He alleged that coal mining in the area has been ongoing since 1914, but the voids created after extraction were never properly filled with sand, which has now led to gas emission and other hazards.
“No doubt the danger in the Kenduadih area is serious for residents, but no one is clearly explaining how grave the situation is. It is also unclear why gas is emitting only from selected houses and not from the entire basti. No concerned agency has identified how this danger has emerged,” Roy said.
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Demand for rehabilitation plan
Roy said displacement of residents has become necessary to protect life and property, but alleged that BCCL does not have a concrete rehabilitation plan in place for the affected families.
He further demanded that DGMS should publish a white paper detailing the number of coal mines closed under BCCL and the measures taken to curb illegal mining, to ensure transparency and accountability.
