The long pending issue of relief and rehabilitation for displaced in mining areas is the prime agenda of the parliamentary committee visiting the State.
The department related standing committee on coal and steel has in the process also identified certain grey areas with coal and iron ore mining majors and steel manufacturers, which would be looked into before recommending remedial measures.
Giving a peep about the purpose of the 15-member team, lok Sabha MP from Koderma Ravindra Kumar Rai said that the committee would present a detailed report to the lok Sabha on the burning issues.
“We have come here to get a feel of the problems being faced by the coal and steel companies as well as those who inhabit their area of operation. There are certain legal provisions under which such exercises have to be conducted. At this point of time, relief and rehabilitation measures taken for the displaced are the most serious issue for which there are legal remedies but seem insufficient. Companies also have their views. After conducting the entire exercise, the committee would submit its recommendations to Parliament that would also be on the solution aspect,” Rai told The Pioneer over phone from Amrapali coal block of CCl.
Headed by lok Sabha MP Rakesh Singh, the panel has lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members in it. Janardan Singh “Sigriwal”, Rama Kishore Singh, Pashupati Nath Singh, Sunil Kumar Singh, Sushil Kumar Singh, Riti Pathak, Shailesh Kumar, Jyoti Dhurve, Ali Anwar Ansari, Pradeep Balmuchu and few others are the members of the standing committee.
The team besides, visiting CCl facilities at Magadh Amrapali and Piparwar coalfields, would see some mines of the BCCl, hold a meeting with major engineering consulting firm Mecon and look into issues with Bokaro Steel Plant of the Steel Authority of India limited (SAIl) that is also a major miner of iron ore.
The team would revisit the production aspect and allotment or supply side of the product. “Besides dealing with peoples’ concern, the panel would also assess the utility of the departments in question, i.e. coal or steel company. Recommendations of the committee play a guiding light for future rules and regulations coming to deal with the problems,” said another panelist requesting not to be quoted.
Moreover, when asked about another grave issue originating from mining operations, environmental pollution, Rai said, “The panel has on earlier occasions discussed in detail over pollution with the Coal India limited. We are in the process of formulating our recommendations that would deal with air, water and noise pollution in mining belts.”
On its part, the CCl apprised the parliamentary panel about steps it has taken under relief and rehabilitation measures, on environmental protection fronts and also under corporate social responsibility, informed an official of Piparwar coal area.