Dhanbad, Oct. 15: The public investment bureau (PIB) has shown the green light to a Rs 6,997-crore Jharia rehabilitation package and it is just a matter of time before the Union Cabinet puts its stamp of approval. But the million dollar question is who will convince some 400,000 residents to evacuate the danger zone, where an underground fire has been raging for more than 90 years?

The people of Jharia are fully aware that the area — a hotbed of illegal mining activities — is no longer safe for them. Land subsidence and gas poisoning have already claimed victims in Dharmanagar, Chuthakuli, Ghanudih, Indira Nagar and Rajput Bustee, but still not one among the 68,000-odd families is willing to leave what they claim to be their ancestral land.

According to a recent Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) report, at least 7,100 families are living in the “highly vulnerable zone” and need immediate rehabilitation. But the BCCL’s attempts to shift them have been thwarted every time by residents who dub the move mere eyewash.

They believe the coal major would act in a partisan way once they leave Jharia. “The officials will only compensate their own workers. What will happen to us?” a resident voiced his fears.

BCCL sources said the Jharia Action Plan okayed by the PIB would be implemented in three phases — dousing underground fire, rehabilitating residents and relocating highways and railway tracks that pass over the Jharia coalfields. While about Rs 4,000 crore will be spent on rehabilitation and relocation, Rs 2,000 crore will be used to douse the fire, raging since 1916, and save billions of tonnes of quality coal that may fetch the Coal India Limited (CIL) big money. The rest of the money under the Jharia Action Plan has been sanctioned for the Raniganj coal belt in Bengal.

At a recent news meet, BCCL’s technical director P.K. Lahiri had announced that more than 70 small townships on 595 acres of land would be built to rehabilitate those displaced from Jharia. Already, 2,352 dwelling units have been constructed at Belgaria. Lahiri said the townships would come up at Bhuli-II and its adjoining areas. They would be connected with proper roads and also boast rail links, besides basic amenities.

Talking to The Telegraph, chairman-cum-managing director of BCCL A.K. Paul said the company had also promised to look into the welfare of residents in the new townships. “We have repeatedly told them how dangerous it is to live in Jharia. Several pockets have been identified as highly vulnerable. Though efforts are being made to douse the fire, some places are so sensitive that we have no choice but to evacuate. Land subsidence — small and big — has become a routine affair. We cannot risk a disaster,” he said.

The senior BCCL official, however, admitted that there were not many takers for the idea. Despite assurances from the BCCL and the district administration, the residents of Jharia are not ready to risk their home and hearth for what they see as “empty promises”. It is also a question of livelihood that is bothering a section of the people who do not work in mines.

“The deal is not impressive. It’s just a big carrot the BCCL is dangling in front of our nose. It has no intention of helping us move to safer places, but is just conspiring to save tonnes of coal by evicting us,” said septuagenarian Rameshwar Singh, who runs a transport business and had shifted here from Balia, Uttar Pradesh, 50 years ago. Singh said the package did not mention what they would do after losing their present source of income.

The Jharia Coalfield Bachao Samiti (JCBS), a frontal organisation protesting against the proposed evacuation, too, has accused the BCCL and district administration of being undemocratic and anti-people.

JCBS secretary M.L. Khanna said he had asked deputy commissioner, Dhanbad, Ajay Kumar to give two cottahs of land and Rs 2 lakh as compensation to those living on non-riyati land. He also warned the administration of brewing resentment among Jharia residents that might snowball into violence in days to come.