Jharia Master Plan: Fire Control & Rehabilitation Approved
- The Indian government has approved a revised Jharia Master Plan (JMP) with a ₹5,940.47 crore budget to tackle coal seam fires, land subsidence, and facilitate rehabilitation in Jharkhand's...
- Coal India Limited (CIL) will contribute ₹500 crore annually to support the Jharia Master Plan implementation.
- A key change in the revised plan is the introduction of cash compensation once available housing is exhausted.
India greenlights the revised Jharia Master Plan, allocating ₹5,940.47 crore to combat coal seam fires, land subsidence, and facilitate comprehensive rehabilitation in jharkhand’s Jharia coalfield. This decisive action, spearheaded by Prime Minister Modi, prioritizes areas of immediate danger, ensuring the safety of residents. The plan emphasizes immediate evacuation from high-risk zones. Coal India Limited will contribute yearly to fortify the Jharia Master Plan,introducing cash compensation and livelihood grants,alongside valuable skill training initiatives for displaced individuals.With significant progress in reducing fire sites and housing completion, the revised plan signifies a structured approach.News Directory 3 provides updates on such critical developments. Discover what’s next for this vital project.
India Approves Jharia Master Plan for coalfield Rehabilitation, Fire Control
Updated June 26, 2025
The Indian government has approved a revised Jharia Master Plan (JMP) with a ₹5,940.47 crore budget to tackle coal seam fires, land subsidence, and facilitate rehabilitation in Jharkhand’s Jharia coalfield. Prime minister Narendra Modi led the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in approving the plan, which prioritizes areas where human lives face immediate danger.
Coal India Limited (CIL) will contribute ₹500 crore annually to support the Jharia Master Plan implementation. Initial efforts will focus on evacuating and rehabilitating families in high-risk zones. Subsequent phases will address areas with lower threat levels. CIL and its subsidiary, BCCL, will work to contain existing fires and prevent new ones.
A key change in the revised plan is the introduction of cash compensation once available housing is exhausted. Affected areas will be categorized into mining and non-mining zones to improve planning and execution of the Jharia Master Plan.
The rehabilitation strategy includes a ₹1 lakh livelihood grant and access to up to ₹3 lakh in credit for each resettled family, regardless of land title status. A Jharia Alternative Livelihoods Rehabilitation Fund will be established, and skill training will be provided through Multi Skill Development Institutes.
Resettlement colonies will feature essential infrastructure like paved roads,electricity,water,sewage systems,schools,hospitals,and community spaces,developed according to the Implementation Committee’s recommendations.
Significant progress has already been achieved, with critical fire sites reduced from 77 to 27. Of the 33,965 proposed houses, 30,473 have been completed.
What’s next
The revised Jharia Master Plan aims for a more structured and humane approach to resolving long-standing industrial and environmental challenges in the region, focusing on enduring rehabilitation and fire control efforts.