A Calcutta-based youth organisation has convened a convention here on October 31 to demand that the proposed Deocha-Pachami coalmine project be scrapped and accused the state government of grabbing land in violation of land acquisition law that was passed in 2013.

The convention will be held at Bharat Sabha Hall in Calcutta on Monday.

A group of activists, intellectuals, Dalit leaders and people from Deocha Pachami, who are unwilling to part with their land for the proposed coalmine project, will participate in the convention to “expose” how the government was trying to grab their land by “using force”.

“The convention is to expose the reality on the grounds in Deocha Pachami. People, including those from the affected areas, will speak at the convention about how the government is violating the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013,” said Prasenjit Bose, an economist and president of Young Bengal, the youth organisation.

Sources said according to the Act, the government had to take land only with consent of the gram sabha (village committee). It is alleged that in the case of Deocha Pachami coalmine project, the local administration started dealing with individuals ignoring the opinion of the village committees.

At the convention, CPM’s tribal leader Pulin Bihari Baske, ISF MLA Nawsad Siddique and at least half a dozen people, who are unwilling to part with their land for the coalmine, are scheduled to speak on the government’s alleged violation of rules and the offer of jobs to a section of people who are not permanent residents of the area.

According to the state government’s report, around 21,000 people will be affected by the project, one of the organisers said.