Deucha Pachami Coal Mines

Context: Thousands will be displaced from their land following the implementation of the project to mine coals and basalts from Deucha-Pachami-Dewanganj-Harinsinga (DPDH) coal block in West Bengal’s Birbhoom district. At least 43 per cent of them will be Adivasis.  
Why this issue is important?

• Several have been displaced and dispossessed in the past due to the construction of large dams and the setting up of mining-related industries. 
• Adivasis constitute only 8.6 per cent of the total population in India, and yet, more than half (55 per cent) of all displaced people after Independence were Adivasis.

About Deucha-Pachami Mines

• Deucha-Pachami-Dewanganj-Harinsinga coal block is the second-largest coal block in the world; it is the largest in India. 
• The block has a thick coal seam trapped between equally thick layers of rocks, mostly basalt. It has a great economic value.
• The existence of these thick basalt layers, however, makes mining of coal difficult; foreign investment and technology will be hence needed for mining. 
• An estimated 1,198 million tonnes of coal and 1,400 million tonnes of basalt are in the block.
• The block is spread over 13.7 square kilometres.