The three phases of NTPC’s Pakri-Barwadih opencast coal mining at Barkagaon in Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand are allegedly set to destroy 210 villages, leaving at least 1.5 lakh people homeless. But the villagers appear to be hell-bent that they won’t give their land to the state-owned power producer at any cost.
They allege that no laid-down procedures of the land acquisition have been followed in the first phase. The consent of the gram panchayat (village panchayat) for land acquisition – as alleged – has either not been obtained or has been manipulated.
The government is reportedly using its might to evict people, but the locals are saying that they won’t cow down. They said they will fight till the end. “Don’t try to snatch our livelihood, which depends on agriculture,” they appeal.
Newsclick travelled to the affected areas and spoke to people. Here’s what they have to say.