Following Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's announcement at the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) on Wednesday, the Bhith Puja (Mother Earth worship) ceremony was held on Thursday, February 6, at Deucha-Panchami to mark the beginning of coal mining operations.

However, protests erupted in the area as locals demanded government jobs before the project proceeds. While they acknowledge the potential for industrial growth and employment, landowners insist that their job assurances be fulfilled first.

Addressing the conference on Wednesday, Mamata Banerjee emphasized the coal block’s role in Bengal’s industrial expansion, citing vast reserves of coal and basalt. She declared that infrastructure was fully prepared and work would commence on Thursday.

The state government estimates an initial investment of Rs 35,000 crore. Administrative sources indicate that operations will begin on government-owned vested land in Chanda village, under the Mohammad Bazar block.

District Magistrate Bidhan Roy visited the site and engaged with the local community, assuring them that excavation would start on government land without any evictions.

“The work is being initiated as per the Chief Minister's instructions. Excavation will begin on government-vested land, and no one is being evicted,” he said.

He also stated that measures were in place to transplant trees displaced by the project.

However, as work commenced on Thursday morning, some landowners voiced their dissatisfaction. They argue that while industrial development is welcome, the government must first provide them with the promised jobs.

One local resident remarked, “The poor will find employment, but landowners were assured government jobs. If these jobs are given first, it will build trust.”

Another landowner added, “Our land was taken a year ago, yet no jobs have been given. We are not opposing the project, but where are our jobs?”

In response to the protest, District Magistrate Roy reiterated that job applications are being processed in order of submission. He assured that local residents would be prioritized for employment.

Birbhum District Superintendent of Police Amandeep also confirmed the media that minor disruptions in the morning had been resolved and that the administration would address any further issues. He expressed confidence that the project would progress smoothly.

The Deucha-Panchami coal block project has been fraught with controversy, primarily due to land acquisition concerns. The proposed open-cast mine is expected to displace thousands, including a significant number of tribal families. Most of the land belongs to tribal communities, but sections have been leased to industrial groups for stone-crushing activities.

The Mamata Banerjee government has faced protests from affected locals, who argue that compensation and rehabilitation measures are inadequate.

Critics highlight the project’s financial and geological challenges, including a basalt rock layer between 225 to 245 meters thick, making coal extraction economically unviable.

Environmentalists warn that mining in the region will have devastating consequences. The project will reduce biodiversity, and lower groundwater levels, while also increasing the risk of flooding and contamination. Pollution, already poorly regulated, has not been addressed by the government.

Moreover, coal remains the largest contributor to global warming. The Bengal Delta—home to Kolkata and the fragile Sundarbans—is one of the world's most vulnerable regions to rising sea levels, making the environmental risks of this project even more alarming.

Even Coal India Limited, a central government entity, opted not to invest in the venture. In November 2021, the state government unilaterally announced a compensation and rehabilitation package without conducting the required public consultations, violating the Land Acquisition Act of 2013.

Located in the Deucha and Panchamati areas under the Mohammad Bazar block, the coal mine as proposed earlier, will be developed using open-cast mining techniques. The project will displace over 10,000 residents from 11 villages and impact 53 hamlets, affecting approximately 70,000 people in the surrounding areas. Reports indicate that 10 mouzas will be affected, with 4,314 families (around 21,000 individuals) facing eviction. Of these, 9,034 belong to the Santhal tribal community, and 3,601 are from Scheduled Castes.

The mine is set to occupy over 11,222 acres, of which more than 9,100 acres belong to tribals. The land was allocated to the West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) in September 2018 following an agreement between the central and state governments. Despite this, work on the project remained stalled for two years due to land acquisition delays and local opposition.