Coal mining operations under the NTPC’s Keredari project have triggered outrage across several villages in Hazaribagh district after it was revealed that BGR Mining & Infra Ltd allegedly blocked the Daurahi River and converted a government irrigation canal into a mining site without securing the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC).
The company, contracted as the Mine Developer and Operator (MDO) for NTPC, was allotted 1,606.89 acres of land specifically for coal extraction. However, it reportedly extended mining activities beyond the legally acquired boundaries. This led to the illegal dumping of overburden (OB) waste into the Daurahi River near Bengvari village, completely obstructing its natural flow.
The Daurahi River, which originates from the hilly terrains of Manatu, had long served as a lifeline for villages such as Bengvari, Basaria, Lochar, and others, ensuring year-round irrigation even during dry seasons. Locals would dig shallow pits in the riverbed to extract water for cultivating rice, wheat, mustard, and vegetables. With the river’s flow now blocked, agriculture across nearly a dozen villages has come to a standstill.
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In another serious violation, a 500-meter stretch of the canal sourced from the Ghaghra Dam, constructed in 1966 to combat drought has been turned into a mine pit. The historic irrigation canal, built by the Department of Minor Irrigation, once distributed water to 24 villages, including Pagar, Keredari, Kabed, and Baldeori. Now, that supply has been cut off entirely beyond the mined section.
“There’s no explanation for cutting through a functioning irrigation system. We need clarity on how this disruption will be compensated,” – Ramratan Kumar Barnwal, Circle Officer, Keredari, Hazaribagh
Local farmers and residents are demanding immediate restoration of the river’s natural course, reestablishment of the damaged canal infrastructure, and strict action against BGR Mining for unauthorized expansion and environmental violations. They argue that despite previous assurances, neither NTPC nor local authorities have taken concrete steps to prevent such misuse of public resources.
The incident underscores the growing tension between industrial expansion and rural sustainability in Jharkhand’s resource-rich yet vulnerable regions. If remedial actions are not taken soon, residents warn, the region could face long-term ecological and economic consequences.
