In a powerful assertion that development cannot come at the cost of ordinary citizens, Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari has issued firm directives to safeguard families affected by land acquisition in the state’s coal mining and thermal power zones.
Chairing a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan, Pujari reviewed land acquisition progress in the coal-rich districts of Angul, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh and Sambalpur. He left no room for ambiguity: “We want mining. We want industry. But first and foremost, we stand with the common people. We cannot put their lives in danger.”
The minister announced that a comprehensive new “Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy” will be rolled out very soon to ensure displaced families receive timely, dignified and sustainable support.
Key Directives from the Meeting:
- Rehabilitation First: No land acquisition will proceed without guaranteed rehabilitation and resettlement. Companies have been told to first utilise government land; private land will be the last resort. Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) has been specifically instructed to issue land pattas on acquired land and create new colonies for displaced residents.
- Fair Compensation & Jobs: Mining companies must pay proper market value for land, provide local employment and implement welfare schemes for affected communities.
- Fly-Ash Pollution Crackdown: Truck-based transport of fly ash — a major source of dust and pollution — will now face strict restrictions. The minister directed that transport be limited to specific time windows, preferably at night, using only covered trucks or containers. He urged a shift to scientific alternatives such as underground conveyance systems and other environment-friendly methods. The State Pollution Control Board has been asked to conduct regular monitoring, and violators will face strict legal action.
- Smart Land-Use Decisions: The Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) has been empowered to exclude non-coal bearing areas from the CB Clause and give priority to nearby lands rendered unsuitable for habitation due to mining activities.
Pujari was categorical: “Displacing poor families to build houses for the rich is simply not acceptable.” He stressed that the government will not allow mining and industrial growth to destroy the lives of the very people who live in these regions.
Senior officials including Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, State Pollution Control Board Member-Secretary Manoj V. Nayyar, district collectors, and top executives from MCL, NTPC, OPGC and other companies attended the meeting in person and via video conferencing.
With the new policy on the horizon, Odisha is sending a clear message: industrial progress and people’s welfare can — and must — go hand in hand. The coal belts are watching closely, hopeful that this time, their voices will finally be heard.
