Odisha Govt to Roll Out New Coal Mine Rehabilitation Policy
Bhubaneswar, April 28: Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari has announced that Odisha will soon introduce a comprehensive Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R) Policy to safeguard the rights of families displaced by coal mining projects.
At a review meeting, Pujari stressed that industrial growth must not come at the cost of ordinary citizens, declaring, “We want mining. We want industry. But first and foremost, we stand with the common people.”
Key directives include:
- Rehabilitation First: No land acquisition without guaranteed resettlement.
- MCL Instructions: Issue land pattas and build colonies for displaced families.
- Fair Compensation & Jobs: Mining firms must pay market value, provide local employment, and implement welfare schemes.
- Pollution Control: Strict curbs on fly ash transport; covered trucks only at night, with scientific alternatives encouraged.
- Smart Land Use: RPDAC empowered to exclude non-coal areas and prioritise lands already unsuitable for habitation.
The State Pollution Control Board will monitor compliance, with violators facing strict legal action.
The move signals Odisha’s commitment to balancing industrial progress with social justice and environmental safeguards.
