BCCL Steps Up Jharia Rehabilitation Drive, Relocates 70 Families from Hazard-Hit Tandabari – Indian PSU

Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) has intensified its relief, rescue and long-term rehabilitation operations in land subsidence and gas emission-affected regions of the Jharia coal belt, with 70 vulnerable families from Tandabari Basti in Govindpur Area being successfully relocated to the safer Belgarhia Township.

The large-scale rehabilitation exercise was carried out on Saturday in coordination with district administration officials and police authorities as part of BCCL’s continuing mission to secure the lives of residents living in geologically unstable and hazardous mining zones.

Under the leadership of CMD Manoj Kumar Agarwal, who took over as Chairman-cum-Managing Director of BCCL in September 2025, the company has been adopting an aggressive safety-first approach in dealing with subsidence-prone and gas-affected settlements across its operational areas.

As the first responder agency in the coalfield region, BCCL has been consistently undertaking immediate rescue assistance, on-ground relief measures and planned rehabilitation interventions whenever incidents of land subsidence or underground gas emission are reported.

70 Families Rehabilitated with Improved Civic Amenities

In one of the most significant recent rehabilitation initiatives, 70 affected families from Tandabari Basti under Govindpur Area were shifted to BCCL’s Belgarhia Township with full administrative support.

The rehabilitated families are being provided with pucca housing, drinking water supply, electricity, road connectivity and other basic civic infrastructure aimed at ensuring a safer and more dignified living environment, while also improving their overall standard of living.

Officials said the relocation is part of BCCL’s phased rehabilitation programme for families residing in critically unsafe locations in the Jharia coalfield region.

Awareness Drives and Counseling Underway in Vulnerable Pockets

Alongside physical relocation, BCCL has also intensified public awareness campaigns, counseling sessions and community outreach programmes in subsidence and gas-affected areas with support from district administration and allied agencies.

Through these drives, residents are being sensitized about the risks of continuing to stay in vulnerable zones and are being encouraged to move voluntarily to designated safer rehabilitation sites.

The company said rehabilitation of additional affected families in Belgarhia Township and other identified safer locations is already underway in a phased and systematic manner.

Focus on Long-Term, Dignified Resettlement

BCCL emphasized that its rehabilitation programme is not confined to immediate emergency response, but is designed as a long-term social safety intervention focused on secure, orderly and dignified resettlement.

Working in close coordination with the local administration, the coal major is also exploring improved livelihood opportunities and social support systems for displaced families to ensure sustainable rehabilitation.