Sundargarh: Many villagers clashed with police during a protest over the commencement of mining operations by Vedanta Limited at Jamkhani coal block, a greenfield mine in Hemgiri block of Sundargarh district. The protests were so intense that the police had to resort lathi-charge. Considering the seriousness of the situation, 17 platoon police force has been deployed in the area.
The protestors are the villagers whose land was acquired for the mining project. They alleged that they not only have they lost agricultural income following the acquisition of their lands, but they have also failed to find an alternate source of employment due to delay in mining operations. The displaced persons are demanding compensation as per the provisions of Right to Fair. Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
It is pertinent to mention that Jamkhani Mine was earlier allotted to Bhushan Power & Steel Limited. After Bhushan pulled out, it was allotted to Vedanta. Vedanta Limited had entered into a Coal Mine Development and Production Agreement (CMDPA) with the Central government represented through the Ministry of Coal and subsequently received vesting order in respect of Jamkhani Coal Mine on February 10, 2020 from the Nominated Authority, Ministry of Coal.
To operationalise the mine, Vedanta obtained all required clearances from State and Central governments including transfer of land measuring 2143 acre of Jamkhani Mine by IDCO which was previously acquired by Bhushan Power & Steel Limited. Land compensation and R&R was completed to a large extent by Bhushan Power & Steel before the block got de-allocated by order of the Supreme Court in September, 2014.
