Team News Riveting
Sambalpur, July 27
In an era of community-corporate conflict, a village in Odisha had set up a precedent by offering resources to Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) for coal mining operations.
This could be the first instance in the history of MCL that a community had voluntarily handed over land for mining. Bhalugadia, a compact village spread over around 17 hectare coal bearing land in Talcher coalfields, had 288 families living there.
The village was acquired under CBA (Coal Bearing Act) by Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), mandated for coal mining in Odisha. The 17 hectare of land made available by Bhalugadia villagers would enable MCL to excavate 21 million tonne of dry fuel.
As per R&R policy of Odisha government, MCL offers a permanent job in company to each eligible member of landowners’ families, which means whosoever is above the age of 18 as on date of notification, besides attractive monetary compensation to beneficiaries against the land acquired and 10 decimal land or equivalent cost for rehabilitation and resettlement.
The local Hingula Area management of MCL, with an active support and guidance of Odisha state administration, was able to create an environment of mutual trust among peripheral villagers that they voluntarily handed over their homestead land to the company. Recently, the General Manager of local command Hingula Area organised a thanks giving ceremony for the residents of Bhalugadia village in his office for setting an example of “obstruction free” eviction from homestead land for coal mining purpose.
It was nevertheless a unique agreement based on mutual trust among the stakeholders – local population and their leadership, district administration and the mining company – to contribute in unison for development of the nation.
P K Sinha, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) has appreciated efforts of the state administration in developing “mutual trust among all stakeholders”, including Bhalugadia villagers at Talcher in Angul district of Odisha and facilitating smooth transition of coal bearing land to the company in the interest of the nation.
“It is indeed an unparalleled and satisfying moment to experience the level of mutual trust developed among all the stakeholders,” Sinha said while expressing his gratitude towards villagers of Bhalugadia for showing their confidence and cooperation.
The CMD also congratulated Angul district administration and local management of MCL’s Hingula Area for developing such a synergy to generate mutual trust among all the stakeholders.
MCL, the second largest coal producing company in the country, is also the top contributor to Odisha state under CSR.
