Plans to create India’s largest coal mine face fierce local resistance: ‘People are terrified’

The homes of thousands of tribal people will be bulldozed for a huge coal project which, after progress on net-zero pledges at Cop26, has been met with global alarm. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports from West Bengal

The project is facing international criticism, amid the global effort to transition away from fossil fuels (AFP via Getty Images)

A statue of tribal leaders Sidhu and Kanhu greets travellers at the entry point of Harinsingha village in West Bengal’s Birbhum district.

The nondescript Harinsingha and its neighbouring villages nestled between lofty sal trees are at the centre of the state government’s ambitious plan to expand India’s coal reserve, which will cost thousands of people their land.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in 2021 announced a 100bn rupees (around £1bn) compensation package for the people who would be asked to leave their houses and land for the Deocha-Pachami coal mine project – almost a third of its total estimated budget of 350bn rupees (£3.5bn).