The long-contested Deucha Pachami coal mining project in West Bengal has once again sparked resistance from local tribal communities, with villagers, led primarily by women, halting government excavation work. Protesters symbolically placed “charkas” on the ground—a traditional tribal sign of defiance—firmly rejecting any forced land acquisition.

Kanu Sardar, an activist from the region, condemned the government's claims about voluntary land acquisition, telling The Crossbill, “The government is lying when it says that tribal people are willingly giving away their land. I know that most Adivasi people are against the coal project.”

He further criticized the administration for disregarding environmental norms, stating, “The government is threatening to destroy our homes, cutting down trees without following regulations. The people do not want this project to go ahead. We will fight for our soil and homes.”

The unrest follows Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent announcement at the Bengal Global Business Summit 2025 that work on the Deucha Pachami project would commence on February 6.

The initiative, aimed at mining coal and basalt, has been positioned as a key driver of industrial growth. However, local residents—particularly in Sagarbandi, and Harinsingha—remain staunchly opposed, citing severe ecological threats and fears of displacement.

While the state government has promised one lakh jobs, villagers claim these assurances are misleading. Reports indicate that 12 acres of forest land have already been cleared, fuelling fears of irreversible environmental damage. Allegations of police intimidation and false legal cases against dissenting tribals have further exacerbated tensions.

A fact-finding team from Kolkata investigating the ground situation was reportedly detained for hours at a guest house in Suri before being attacked—allegedly by members of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). One team member was seriously injured and required hospitalization.

CPI(M) state secretary Md. Salim has sharply criticized the government’s handling of the Deucha Pachami coal mining project, accusing it of turning the region into a “war zone” rather than fostering genuine industrial development.

“The Chief Minister falsely claimed that the indigenous Santhal community is willingly giving away their land for the project. We have witnessed blatant violations of norms, with large-scale deforestation already taking place,” Salim said.

He praised the resistance led by tribal women, stating that their defiance had “exposed the lies of the Chief Minister.” 

He further alleged that most of those who had agreed to sell their land were absentee landlords, while the Santhal community, which depends on stone mining for its livelihood, remains steadfast in its opposition.

The Deucha Pachami coal block, one of India’s largest reserves, covers 11,222 acres, with nearly 9,100 acres belonging to tribals. If implemented, the project is expected to displace over 10,000 people across 11 villages, impacting an estimated 70,000 residents in surrounding hamlets. Stone mine owners in the region, however, back the project, hoping for preferential contracts for their stone-crushing units.

But tribals, under the banners of Paschim Banga Samajik Nyayabichar Manch and Adivasi Adhikar Raksha Manch, continue rejecting the compensation and rehabilitation package announced in 2021, which they argue was imposed without public consultation. 

Protests have since intensified across Siuri, Bolpur, Rampurhat, and Rajnahar, with villagers denouncing police excesses and demanding a withdrawal of the project.

Following Mamata Banerjee’s announcement, a Bhith Puja (Mother Earth Worship) ceremony was held at Deucha Pachami on February 6 to mark the beginning of coal mining operations. However, landowners protested, insisting that government jobs be provided first before any further progress on the project.

The state government estimates an initial investment of Rs 35,000 crore, with operations set to begin on government-owned vested land in Chanda village under the Mohammad Bazar block.

District Magistrate Bidhan Roy had assured villagers that excavation would only occur on government land and that no one would be forcibly evicted. He also confirmed that displaced trees would be transplanted elsewhere to mitigate environmental damage.

Despite these assurances, some landowners remain dissatisfied. A resident of the region stated that while industrial development is not being opposed, job commitments should be honoured first to build trust among those who have lost their land.

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

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?”

Authorities maintain that job applications are being processed, but protests continue, highlighting deep-seated distrust among the affected communities. The project also faces environmental and economic concerns. Experts warn that mining operations could lead to severe biodiversity loss, groundwater depletion, and increased flooding risks.

Geological studies indicate that a 225-245 meter thick basalt rock layer beneath the coal reserves makes extraction highly costly and complex. Environmentalists caution that coal mining in the Bengal Delta, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions, is a serious risk, particularly in the wake of rising sea levels and extreme weather patterns.

Even Coal India Limited, a central government entity, declined to invest in the project due to financial and geological constraints. The West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited received land for the project in September 2018 under a deal with the central government, yet progress has stalled for years due to strong local opposition.

With resistance intensifying and political tensions mounting, the Deucha Pachami coal mine stands at the crossroads of industrial ambition and indigenous survival, raising crucial questions about development, displacement, and environmental responsibility.