Coal minister discusses Jharia Master Plan with Parliamentary panel

30 Oct 2021 CW Team

On Wednesday, Minister of Coal Pralhad Joshi chaired a meeting with the ministry's Parliamentary Consultative Committee to chalk out a roadmap for the Jharia Master Plan.

Members of Parliament took part in the consultative committee meeting. During the presentation, it was notified that due to unscientific mining in the pre-nationalisation period, mining areas in the Jharia coalfield in Jharkhand faced issues of fire and subsidence. These areas come in the leasehold regions of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL), a Coal India arm.

As a result of WP(C) No 381/97 filed by late Haradhan Roy, Ex-MP in 1997 in the Supreme Court of India, a master plan for managing fire, subsidence and rehabilitation in Jharia was passed on August 12, 2009, by the Government of India with the implementation term of 10 years and the pre-implementation period of two years.

In a statement, the Coal Ministry said that the implementation term was completed in August 2021. As a result of fire control steps taken by BCCL, the fire area is continuously declining.

Presently, according to the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) surveys in 2021, fire sites have been decreased to 18 sites comprising 1.8 sq km from the initial 70 sites incorporating an area of 17.32 sq km.

Presently, 15 sites are economically viable, wherein work associated with the digging of fire has been granted. At two sites, BCCL's board has suggested the viability gap funding of Rs 763 crore from the revised master plan. At four sites, blanketing will be done to include the fire sites to extinguish the fire.

Regarding rehabilitation, there are 595 sites wherein BCCL is accountable for taking action to move its staff from BCCL homes. BCCL has begun the construction of 15,852 houses, and presently, around 3,852 families are to be moved to the new homes. BCCL has offered 8,000 homes to be used by the Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority (JRDA) for non-BCCL families.

In the case of rehabilitation of non-BCCL families, there has been a substantial rise in the number of encroachers as of 2019 against the cut-off date provision of 2004. The state government is accountable for shifting legal and non-legal title holders.

JRDA under the state government has undertaken the development of 18,352 houses, out of which 6,352 are achieved, and the rest will be made by August 2022. JRDA has made a revised rehabilitation plan, which the state government is examining.

Image Source

Also read: Tata Steel sets up 2 mtpa coal plant under Jharia division

On Wednesday, Minister of Coal Pralhad Joshi chaired a meeting with the ministry's Parliamentary Consultative Committee to chalk out a roadmap for the Jharia Master Plan. Members of Parliament took part in the consultative committee meeting. During the presentation, it was notified that due to unscientific mining in the pre-nationalisation period, mining areas in the Jharia coalfield in Jharkhand faced issues of fire and subsidence. These areas come in the leasehold regions of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL), a Coal India arm. As a result of WP(C) No 381/97 filed by late Haradhan Roy, Ex-MP in 1997 in the Supreme Court of India, a master plan for managing fire, subsidence and rehabilitation in Jharia was passed on August 12, 2009, by the Government of India with the implementation term of 10 years and the pre-implementation period of two years. In a statement, the Coal Ministry said that the implementation term was completed in August 2021. As a result of fire control steps taken by BCCL, the fire area is continuously declining. Presently, according to the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) surveys in 2021, fire sites have been decreased to 18 sites comprising 1.8 sq km from the initial 70 sites incorporating an area of 17.32 sq km. Presently, 15 sites are economically viable, wherein work associated with the digging of fire has been granted. At two sites, BCCL's board has suggested the viability gap funding of Rs 763 crore from the revised master plan. At four sites, blanketing will be done to include the fire sites to extinguish the fire. Regarding rehabilitation, there are 595 sites wherein BCCL is accountable for taking action to move its staff from BCCL homes. BCCL has begun the construction of 15,852 houses, and presently, around 3,852 families are to be moved to the new homes. BCCL has offered 8,000 homes to be used by the Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority (JRDA) for non-BCCL families. In the case of rehabilitation of non-BCCL families, there has been a substantial rise in the number of encroachers as of 2019 against the cut-off date provision of 2004. The state government is accountable for shifting legal and non-legal title holders. JRDA under the state government has undertaken the development of 18,352 houses, out of which 6,352 are achieved, and the rest will be made by August 2022. JRDA has made a revised rehabilitation plan, which the state government is examining. Image Source Also read: Tata Steel sets up 2 mtpa coal plant under Jharia division

Technology

28 Oct 2025

Building Faster, Smarter, and Greener!

Backed by ULCCS’s century-old legacy, U-Sphere combines technology, modular design and sustainable practices to deliver faster and more efficient projects. In an interaction with CW, Rohit Prabhakar, Director - Business Development, shares how the company’s integrated model of ‘Speed-Build’, ‘Smart-Build’ and ‘Sustain-Build’ is redefining construction efficiency, quality and environmental responsibility in India.U-Sphere positions itself at the intersection of speed, sustainability and smart design. How does this translate into measurable efficiency on the ground?At U..

Infrastructure Transport

28 Oct 2025

Smart Roads, Smarter India

India’s infrastructure boom is not only about laying more kilometres of highways – it’s about building them smarter, safer and more sustainably. From drones mapping fragile Himalayan slopes to 3D machine-controlled graders reducing human error, technology is steadily reshaping the way projects are planned and executed. Yet, the journey towards digitisation remains complex, demanding not just capital but also coordination, training and vision.Until recently, engineers largely depended on Survey of India toposheets and traditional survey methods like total stations or DGPS to prepare detai..

Real Estate

28 Oct 2025

What Does DCPR 2034 Mean?

The Maharashtra government has eased approval norms for high-rise buildings under DCPR 2034, enabling the municipal commissioner to sanction projects up to 180 m on large plots. This change is expected to streamline approvals, reduce procedural delays and accelerate redevelopment, drawing reactions from developers, planners and industry experts about its implications for Mumbai’s vertical growth.Under the revised DCPR 2034 rules, buildings on plots of 2,000 sq m or more can now be approved up to 180 m by the municipal commissioner, provided structural and geotechnical reports are certified b..