Villagers scuffle with Bellora mine personnel, stall work

Chandrapur: The project affected villagers foiled the attempt of Aurobindo Realty and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd (ARIPL) to restart the work at Takli-Jena-Bellora coal mine on Monday morning. After an employee of the company engaged in a scuffle with the protesting women, Bhadravati police have registered an offence against him.
State government has allocated Takli-Jena-Bellora (North) and Takli-Jena-Bellora (South) coal blocks in Bhadravati tehsil to ARIPL. Total 11 villages under six gram panchayats — Panvadala, Takli-Bellora, Jena, Kadoli-Kiloni, Kansa and Dongargaon — are going to be affected by the two mines of the company. ARIPL has obtained consent for acquisition of 936 hectares of land and subsequent mining after holding a public hearing on June 21 last year.
The villagers are insisting that the company should acquire their land at the rate of Rs50 lakh per acre and ensure rehabilitation of directly affected villages before starting any work. The company has already taken possession of 128 hectares and is keen on starting the mining work. There had been multiple protests over the issue and villagers had forcefully stalled the work at the site time and again.
Fresh attempt by the company’s general manager Virendra Singh to start the work under the protection of a bunch of bouncers attracted the wrath of the villagers. Hundreds of villagers led by sarpanchs of Bellora, Takli, Jena and Panvadala reached the site to oppose the work.
“The company is trying to start mining without addressing the issue of land acquisition and jobs to the project affected people. Unless the company resolves the issues and ensures rehabilitation of villages, we will not allow the work to start,” said Bellora sarpanch Sangita Deharkar.
Tension grew at the mining site as an employee of the company Akash Wankhede allegedly threatened the protesting women and a bunch of company personnel had a scuffle with them. Police had to intervene and rescue the company officials from angry villagers. The villagers then gathered at the police station and had a heated argument with the company officials there. Finally, the company officials agreed to stop work.
Meanwhile, following a complaint lodged by the village women, police have registered an offence against Wankhede under sections 504 and 506 of IPC. ARIPL GM could not be reached for his comments.