BCCL’s proactive measures in Jharia  coal yield results: Surface fire reduced by 44 percent, with 16 locations targeted by excavation projects.

Jharia Master Plan was approved on 12th August 2009 by the Govt. of India to deal with fire and rehabilitation of people residing in fire and subsidence affected areas. BCCL has adopted the method of digging out fire through excavation.

The fire is being extinguished by digging out through excavation. To monitor the success of this process, BCCL is periodically conducting survey by National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad for delineation of surface fire. As per the survey report of 2020-21, the surface fire area has been reduced to 1.80 sq. km spread over 27 locations from previous surveyed area of 3.26 Sq Km spread over 34 locations in year 2017-18.

Out of these 27 locations, fire at 16 locations is being dealt by fire dealing projects through excavation and balance locations are being dealt by blanketing.

Presently, no proposal is under consideration for assigning responsibility to National Disaster Management Authority.

This information was given by Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.