Deogarh Villagers Block Road Over Coal Transport Permission
Deogarh witnessed tense scenes late on May 25 as hundreds of villagers staged a road blockade against coal transport through Budhapal panchayat.
The district administration had recently permitted Singareni Collieries Company to move coal from Naini mines in Angul via rural roads between 10 pm and 5 am.
Residents from Sendha, Gambharipal, and Luhurakot gathered around 9 pm, voicing concerns over road damage, dust pollution, and accident risks on narrow village routes.
The protest was spearheaded by MLA Romanch Ranjan Biswal, joined by sarpanch Dillip Kumar Acharya and chairperson Pabani Dehuyi.
Despite police intervention led by SDPO Ramesh Mahananda, negotiations failed, forcing a temporary suspension of coal truck movement.
Nearly 20 trucks loaded with coal were halted, adding to delays in transporting five lakh metric tons of coal that have been stalled since March due to local opposition.
Villagers had earlier raised grievances with the collector’s office but remained dissatisfied with the response.
The blockade highlights growing friction between industrial transport needs and rural community safety, with residents demanding stricter safeguards before allowing coal movement through their villages.
