The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the revised Jharia Master Plan worth Rs 5,940 crore to deal with underground fire in Jharia, Jharkhand and to rehabilitate the affected families. The aim of this scheme is to provide relief to the fire affected families and strengthen their livelihood.
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vishnav said that the original masterplan prepared in 2009 could not be fully implemented due to legal, technical and social obstacles. Now keeping these challenges in mind, the plan has been revised again.
According to the government, Coal India Limited (CIL) will contribute an additional Rs 500 crore every year to this scheme, which will strengthen the process of rehabilitation.
Under this scheme, Jharia Redevelopment Authority (JRDA) will be strengthened. It will appoint a CEO of Joint Secretary rank, an implementation committee and a monitoring committee will be formed. The monitoring committee will have the Secretary of the Coal Ministry and the Chief Secretary of Jharkhand as co-chairs.
The main objective of the revised masterplan is not only to rebuild houses, but also to provide livelihood creation, skill development, and complete infrastructure (such as roads, schools, hospitals, water supply, electricity etc.). The government believes that this scheme will provide the affected families not only safe housing but also social and economic stability.
The revised Jharia Master Plan lays emphasis on creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for the rehabilitated families. Special skill development and employment-oriented measures will be taken for the economic self-reliance of the rehabilitated families.
In addition, livelihood grant of Rs. 1 lakh and institutional loan assistance up to Rs. 3 lakh will be given to both legal land ownership holder (LTH) families and unregistered land holder (non-LTH) families.
In addition, comprehensive infrastructure and essential facilities such as roads, electricity, water supply, sewerage, schools, hospitals, skill development centres, community buildings will be developed at the rehabilitated sites. These provisions will be implemented as per the recommendations of the Revised Jharia Master Plan Implementation Committee. This will ensure holistic and humane rehabilitation.
A dedicated Jharia Alternative Livelihood Rehabilitation Fund will be set up for livelihood measures of the rehabilitated persons. Skill development initiatives will also be taken there in collaboration with multiple skill development institutes operating in the area.
Reacting to the decision the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha said on Wednesday that it’s a continuous process, in which both Centre and State are participating. It’s not a favour for the State of Jharkhand by Centre, said the party.