Landlosers agitate at the CCL project site. Pix: Shahnawaz Akhtar

Giridih, Nov. 24: The two-decade-old land controversy involving a project of the Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) in Giridih has reared its head again.

Seventy families, who had given their land before 1980, have launched a fresh agitation against the company in demand for a better compensation package. They began a blockade at Kabribad’s open cast mine — one of the most important mines of the project — on November 21 for two hours and the time period is being increased by an hour every day. Today, production was stopped for five hours. Gandey MLA Salkhan Soren also participated in the blockade.

Kailashpati Kandu, who is leading the stir, said the CCL had taken 396 acre of land in Karharbari, Sikdardih, Dhobidih, Gapai, Piratand and Matkitto from 140 landholders in four phases — 1963, 1968, 1975 and 1976. The land was acquired under the coal act and land acquisition act and a compensation package of money and job to one member of each family was promised. The landlosers refused to accept the sum as the CIL was offering only Rs 500 per acre. But in 1980, 70 landlosers agreed to accept jobs.

The Gandey MLA, also the convener of United Progressive Alliance, has given five days’ time to CCL to fulfil the demands, or else, the intervention of the government would be sought. B.D. Mitra, the new project officer, said: “I don’t have much idea about the issue. I will urge senior officials to look into the matter.”