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| :: Barapukuria coal mine project: 406 affected families to get compensation ~ |
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The Committee constituted to determine compensation for the resettlement of 406 affected families of Barapukuria in Dinajpur coalmine project is likely submit its report this week.
Some 2,000 affected people of 406 families living at seven villages in coal mining areas will be given compensation for their rehabilitation.
The committee has already identified five worst affected families of Kalupara and Moupukur villages and called for removing then to safer places as they are living in the coal mining area with great risk to their lives and properties. But the members of these five families have vehemently opposed their rehabilitation at other places unless they were given due compensation.
"We have already visited the coal mining areas several times and prepared our report on the basis of our talks with the affected families," a member of the committee said on the condition of anonymity.
He further said that they would recommend rehabilitation of more than 200 families of Kalupara and Moupukur villages first and then rest of the families of five other villages in coal mining area in phases.
In reply to a question, he said that the committee is yet to assess the size of compensation for the affected families.
The committee will recommend acquiring around 33.5 square kilometres of land at seven affected villages falling in coal mining area by resettling the affected people, he added.
An inter-ministerial meeting on March 3 constituted the eight-member committee to prepare a complete package programme for compensating people affected by land subsidence at the coal mine area and for future course of action including acquiring of land. The meeting also asked the committee to review the land acquiring procedures like Jamuna Bridge. The committee is headed by joint-secretary Ahmed Ullah of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.
The government will acquire the land as early as possible for starting open pit mining in future, sources said.
Affected people at Barapukuria have become restive in recent times as huge land subsidence affected 300 acres of land and subsequently many houses at seven villages have developed cracks.
Following the agitation of Jhigagari villagers the coal production of Barapukuria remained suspended from February 25 to March 2.
More land subsidence might occur because of the underground mining. If people continue to live in the mining areas they might be at great risk because of subsidence, sources said.
The committee is likely to recommend a guideline for the government to appoint experts or surveyors to determine what amount of compensation of the people in the area need,
'Before assessing the compensation package, finding the actual number of people living in the area, determination of agricultural and residential land, number of houses, trees and the cost of crops are crucial. Besides, peoples' views should be taken on where they want to go and what they want to do after relocation,' sources noted.
The government has already constructed and renovated several building to resettle the affected families at West Camp in Dinajpur.
The Barapukuria coal field has a reserve of around 389 million tonnes and the authorities will extract 10 to 20 per cent coal from the underground mine in 30 years.
The government has contemplations to establish the mining city at Barapukuria and Madhyapara coal mining project areas, Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury told the New Nation earlier. |
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