New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the Revised Jharia Master Plan (JMP) aimed at tackling persistent fires, land subsidence, and the rehabilitation of affected families in and around Jharia Coalfield, one of India’s most critical mining regions which is operated by Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL). The total financial outlay for the implementation of the revised plan stands at Rs 5,940.47 crore, said the Ministry of Coal in a statement.
The revised plan adopts a phased approach, giving top priority to managing underground coal fires, subsidence-prone zones, and the resettlement of families from the most vulnerable areas. The Jharia coalfield, located in Jharkhand and operated largely by Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), has long been plagued by underground fires and hazardous living conditions due to decades of unregulated mining.
The updated plan places significantly greater emphasis on sustainable livelihood generation for the families being resettled. As part of this, the government will undertake targeted skill development programmes and create income-generating opportunities to ensure the economic self-reliance of the displaced population.
Families — both Legal Title Holders (LTH) and Non-Legal Title Holders (Non-LTH) — will receive a livelihood grant of Rs 1 lakh and access to credit support of up to Rs 3 lakh through an institutional credit pipeline.
In addition, a dedicated Jharia Alternative Livelihoods Rehabilitation Fund will be established to promote and support livelihood-related activities in the resettlement areas. Skill training will also be implemented in partnership with Multi Skill Development Institutes in the region.
Resettlement sites will be equipped with comprehensive infrastructure and essential public services, including roads, electricity, water supply, sewerage, schools, hospitals, skill development centres, community halls, and other amenities. These provisions will be implemented in line with the recommendations of the Committee for Implementation of the Revised Jharia Master Plan, to ensure a holistic and humane rehabilitation approach, said the Coal Ministry.
The original Jharia Master Plan was launched on August 12, 2009, for a 12-year implementation period ending August 11, 2021. It was created to address fires, land subsidence, and the resettlement of families within the leasehold areas of BCCL. Following the end of that tenure, a committee chaired by the Coal Secretary was constituted on August 25, 2021, at the direction of the Cabinet Secretary, to review the plan and chart the “way ahead.” The newly approved revised JMP is the outcome of that review.