The demand for employment at JSW’s Parbatpur Coal Block in Bokaro gathered momentum on Monday as local landowners and project-affected families staged a protest outside the project’s main gate. The agitation followed the grant of the mining lease by the Jharkhand Government, with protesters claiming that despite surrendering their land nearly 14 years ago, they were still waiting for the jobs promised to them.
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Main Gate Blocked, Operations Disrupted
The protesters blocked the main entrance to the coal block, preventing company officials and employees from entering the project site and disrupting operations. According to the affected families, more than 120 members from around 237 project affected households are still awaiting employment. They alleged that instead of offering direct jobs, the company has been executing work through contractors by issuing small tenders.
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Talks Failed to Break Deadlock
Following the protest, Bangaria OP in-charge Shubham Kumar reached the spot with police personnel. A meeting was organized between JSW General Manager Anup Singh and representatives of the protesters, but no agreement could be reached. The affected families insisted that all eligible landowners should be provided employment in a single phase. They also accused the company’s local management of ignoring their grievances and failing to place their concerns before senior officials.
Company Assured Jobs After Completion of Formalities
Chandankiyari Circle Officer Ravi Kumar Anand also joined the discussions and attempted to mediate between the two sides. The company maintained that employment would be provided to all eligible project affected families after completion of all lease related statutory formalities and that the recruitment process was underway. However, with no consensus emerging during the talks, the protesters warned that their agitation would continue until employment was provided to all eligible families.
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