Chief secy reviews Jharia rehab roadmap

{ MEETING HELD ON REVISED ‘MASTER PLAN’

- Praduman Chaubey

Jharkhand chief secretary Alka Tiwari led a high-level review of the revised ‘Jharia Master Plan’ at the Dhanbad Collectorate Auditorium on Friday, emphasising rapid and structured execution of rehabilitation efforts for families displaced by underground mine fires, people aware of the development said on Saturday.

The review meeting, attended by senior officials from Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), the Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority (JRDA), and the Dhanbad district administration, focused primarily on Belgaria Township, earmarked as the nucleus of resettlement for affected residents, insiders said.

Tiwari said the revised plan, prepared and published after a detailed assessment by the Centre, is geared toward resolving earlier implementation challenges and building a self-reliant ecosystem for relocated families. “Employment, self-employment, and essential community services are at the core of this renewed effort,” she said.

She also called for a comprehensive awareness campaign to educate residents in fire-affected zones about the benefits and facilities available at Belgaria to promote voluntary relocation. Authorities were further directed to roll out a joint skill development strategy tailored to individual interests, supported by a time-bound execution calendar monitored jointly by the state and central governments.