There was panic and subsequent discontentment among the people due to the appearance of a pothole at Dera-Gopalpur of Talcher area of the MCl, where the company is operating an underground coalmine.
Aggrieved people fearing threat to their life and property due to the pothole demanded immediate action and proper sand filling in the underground mine. The pothole occurred on the premises of one Gania Pradhan. Pradhan and his family were shifted to Dera transit camp by the MCl authority and the area was declared prohibited. Director, Mines Safety R Subramanyam visited the spot and was assessing the situation.
Talcher Area GM KK Roul, who visited the spot, was manhandled by the irate mob. An FIR was filled in the Colliery Police Station against the local BJD president Niranjan Pradhan. The aggrieved people closed the Dera and Nandira mines along with the GM office.
Notably, in a PIl on the safety and environment of Talcher, the Odisha High Court had recently told, “The Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1957 provides certain norms relating to avoidance of disturbance on surface. These need to be strictly followed. Sand filling in required ratio should be adhered to. The authorities under the Mines Act should make periodic verification to ensure that mines safety is maintained.
It is not to be forgotten that while everything on the surface appeared to be normal in two areas, disasters in coal mines in Bihar State caused immense loss of lives. With the hope that there is no recurrence of such disasters in Talcher area, we part with the case.”