Even as the State Government claims that sand-filling has adequately been done in the vacuums created in underground coalmines in the Talcher Municipality area, the subsidence of a large tract of land at places under the Handidhua police station that occurred on Saturday has created fear of life loss among denizens of the town.
So, the Brahmani Anchal Suraksha Parishad has reiterated its demand that the willing people of the locality be given adequate compensation and shifted to safer places.
“Way back in 1982, it was decided at a meeting presided over by then Dhenkanal district Collector AJ Alokas in my presence as an MlA that the MCl would fill the vacuums with sand and would not mine all coalmines underground Talcher town. However, the MCl violated the decision and went for mining activities. Consequently, an area of land subsided, leading to a mass public agitation. Again in 1992, such a decision was taken and the MCl was advised to fill the empty area with sand. Besides, it was decided that interested people would be given adequate compensation and shifted to safer places. But nothing such happened. later to a PIl of mine, the High Court had issued direction for protection of lives and properties. While 90 years have already elapsed since beginning of Deulabeda mining work, it is not possible to fill sand in the vacuums now. Hence, interested people should be given adequate compensation and shifted to safer places,” demanded Parishad president Bibhudhendra Pratap Das.
Das said while the then Mines Minister had told the State Assembly that Deulabeda and Handidhua underground coalmines had been sand-filled, the subsidence occurred on Saturday says how unsafe the town is now.
“While Talcher town has already been marked as an earthquake-risk zone, the TADA has also put restriction on construction of high-rise buildings on a large tract of 654.78 hectare land in the town. Hence, the Government should act appropriately before any disaster happens in the area,” suggested Das.