National ST Commission notice to Hazaribagh DC, SP over Birhor’s death

Ranchi, March 20: The National Scheduled Tribes (ST) Commission has taken a strict stand on the death of Scheduled Tribe minors Kirani Birhor and Bahadur alias Durga Birhor due to the adverse effects of mining work under NTPC’s Chatti Bariatu coal project in Keredari block of Hazaribagh district.

The Commission has issued a notice to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) of Hazaribagh and sought a reply within fifteen days.

The National Scheduled Tribes Commission has issued this notice on the complaint of Durga Munda. The Commission has made it clear that if the reply is not received within the stipulated time limit, summons will be issued to the concerned officials.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs of the Government of India has termed the role of NTPC and its Mine Developer and Operator (MDO) Rithwik-AMR Consortium as well as the local administration as suspicious. The ministry has sought the help of the District Mining Department in this matter.

The officer has also recommended action against the Regional Officer of Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board Hazaribagh, Keredari Circle Officer and Police Station Incharge.

The five-member investigation team constituted under the chairmanship of the Sub-Divisional Officer to investigate this matter has raised serious questions in its report.

According to the report, mining work is being done by NTPC near Birhor Tola, Pagar, due to which excessive dust is getting dissolved in the air and spreading serious pollution. This situation is adversely affecting the health of the Birhor community and putting them at risk of respiratory diseases. Danger from mining work, increased risk of accident due to explosion

The investigation team report said that explosions are done during mining, due to which there is a possibility of major accidents.

The report also suggested that mining work should be stopped in this area until the Birhor community is rehabilitated at a safe place.

The most serious allegation is that the mandatory post-mortem under Section 174(3) of the CrPC was not conducted, which is suspected to be an attempt to hide the real cause of death and protect the culprits. Despite this, mining is still going on in the area, which shows the administration’s apathy.