Members of the West Bengal Power Development Corporation’s apex committee visited Harinsingha village and adjoining areas in Birbhum’s Deocha-Pachami on Sunday, a day after a public protest meeting of tribal residents, lawyers and politicians against the proposed mega coal mine project.

Apex committee members, including actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay and convener Tanmoy Ghosh, interacted with local residents to “hear out” their concerns and “communicate” those to the state government, under whose auspices the committee was formed this August.

“We are not jumping to any conclusions yet regarding the supposed airing of protest on Saturday. We asked our own questions and noted down answers. We will submit our ground report to the government,” said Ghosh.

Saturday’s protest meeting in Dewanganj village saw CPM and Congress veterans as well as high court lawyers who promised legal help to villagers if the government “forced” them to vacate for the coal mine. “This development is sensitive as it involves large tribal populations,” said a leader of the Deocha-Pachami Adivasi Janajati Bhumiraksha Committee, which organised Saturday’s meeting.

Trinamul district sources said on Sunday that the CPM’s overtures in this regard had been “unwelcome”. District party chief Anubrata Mondal on Saturday alleged that “outsiders” had been brought in to “provoke” tribal residents.

The apex committee’s visit on Sunday was seen by party insiders as an encouraging gesture from the state government to take the dialogue for the coal mine project forward.

The apex committee was formed by the WBPCDL in

August this year, at which time a public order had anticipated the need for “social work” and “trust building” among Deocha residents in order to further the project.

The Deocha coal block is spread over 11,222 acres and has estimated coal reserves of 2.2 billion tonnes. According to government estimates, the project can generate jobs for at least 1.5 lakh people and can act as an engine of economic growth for the entire south Bengal.

On November 9, chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced a rehabilitation package worth Rs 10,000 crore that offers at least three times the land price compared to market rates and a government job of junior constable for every displaced family. The state government also relaxed the minimum qualification for junior constables in its official notification as many members of the eligible families would reportedly not be able to meet the needed educational criteria.

This issue was revived during Saturday’s protest, and with the apex committee on Sunday, with protesters claiming they wanted the job assurance on paper before any relocation.

Another common demand was the need for greater transparency in the face of a “significant” loss in real estate if families went forward with the relocation.

“We will be the ones who will be moving from these open fields into 600sqft dwelling units, so we need to be sure of everything before taking the step,” said a Deocha resident on Sunday.

“There are already so many mines in our vicinity, so we are a little sceptical... We want to ensure we are not being gobbled up by economic interest and are being treated fairly,” another added.