Shifting of more than one lakh families living in 595 fire affected areas of the Jharia coal field region is likely to gain momentum now that the ongoing socio-economic survey of the area is nearing completion and a high power committee of the ministry of coal is scheduled to meet on September 25 to chalk out alternative plans.

The survey has been completed in 590 of the 595 sites. The survey in the remaining five sites, including three in Baghmara and one each in Putki and Chandrapura, is likely to completed by the end of the month.

Also, a committee constituted by the Union ministry of coal, headed by Bharat Coking Coal (BCCL) director personnel R.S. Mahapatra, is also working on an alternative module _ in addition to the Jharia master plan (JMP)_ to rehabilitate one lakh families living in fire-affected zones, irrespective of cut-off dates.

As of now, only families who have been living in fire-affected zones before 2004 are being rehabilitated in newly constructed quarters at Belgarhia under the Jharia master plan by its implementing agency Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority (JRDA).

As many as 4,000 families have already been rehabilitated in Belgarhia.

Dhanbad deputy commissioner and ex-officio MD of JRDA Amit Kumar said, “We have almost completed the socio-economic survey. The remaining work will be completed very soon. A committee constituted by the Union ministry of coal is also working on alternative modules of rehabilitation and is in an advance state of preparation.”

Kumar said JRDA had sought a priority list from BCCL for shifting people from fire-affected sites to Belgarhia. “We will accelerate the work as soon as the list is made available to JRDA,” he added.

BCCL director personnel Mahapatra said the alternative plan was almost ready. “A financial package for legal title holder families and illegal encroachers living in fire zones who are not willing to shift is being considered as options,” he said.