Mining Promises, Displaced Realities: Union Minister’s SECL Visit Raises Old Questions in a New Suit

Korba, Chhattisgarh | The SanvaadGarh

Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey recently wrapped up a high-profile two-day visit (June 30–July 1) to South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) mines unveiling new machinery, planting trees, and touting productivity gains. But beneath the polished event lies a harsh truth: displaced communities, disputed land, and air too toxic to breathe.

Production Push, People Pushed Aside

• Dubey inaugurated a Continuous Miner at NCPH underground mine in Chirimiri, targeting Coal India’s 100 million tonne underground goal by 2030.
• Launched a mechanical ventilator at Churcha mine for better airflow and safety, but skipped details on worker or resident health near fly-ash dumps.
• Opened a gate complex in Dipka, emphasizing tech-driven output – yet silent on the human cost.

A Dipka union member said, “We support modernization, but what about the hundreds still waiting for compensation or housing lost a decade ago?”

Displacement: The Unsettled Core

• Dubey’s meeting with CM Vishnu Deo Sai highlighted land acquisition delays and displacement as key barriers to coal expansion.
• Thousands in Chirimiri, Gevra, and Dipka remain displaced – land taken, homes promised, but rehabilitation stalled or denied.
• SECL reports over 1,200 hectares of pending land acquisition. RTIs on resettlement remain unanswered.

Voices from the Ground

• Rameshwari Bai from Gevra’s ash zone: “We’re called encroachers, though we’ve lived here before SECL.”
• A widow: “My husband died of silicosis. They gave us saplings, not doctors.”
• A contract worker: “The Minister saw machines, not us coughing beside them.”

SanvaadGarh Verdict

Dubey’s visit checked all boxes – green flags, reviews, and photo-ops. But true success isn’t in coal tonnes, it’s in addressing displacement, health justice, and clean air.

Until then, each tree is a photo-op. Each upgrade a distraction. The mines grow, silence grows louder.

📌 Reported by The SanvaadGarh Editorial Desk
📎 Based on public data, ground reports, and testimonies.