Jarada Villagers’ Protest Enters Day Three

Bhubaneswar: The ongoing mine shutdown protest by the displaced and affected villagers of Jarada, demanding fulfillment of their 8-point charter, has entered its third day. The agitation, which began on May 16, has brought coal extraction and transportation from the Kanihan coal mine to a complete halt.

According to reports, thousands of tons of coal used to be transported daily to NTPC, Jindal plants, and other destinations. However, due to the protest, all mining and transportation activities have been completely disrupted. Despite combined efforts by the mine authorities, police, and district administration to persuade the villagers to call off the protest, the residents remain firm on their demands.

The villagers allege that the Kanihan coal mine authorities had given a written promise to allocate them plots in the resettlement colony near Patharamunda village by May 15, but that commitment has not been fulfilled. Even after 29 years of the mine using their land, the affected villagers claim they have neither been resettled nor compensated or provided employment.

They further allege that repeated assurances by the mine authorities have turned out to be false, leaving them with no option but to protest peacefully in front of the coal mine.

The villagers have stated clearly that their peaceful protest will continue until their demands are met. The ongoing unrest has created a tense atmosphere in the region, and the administration is now concerned about how to bring the mining operations back to normalcy.