Bilaspur Public Opinion: There is a lot of anger among the villagers regarding the proposed coal washery project of M/s Viraj Earth Pyujan Private Limited in the tribal dominated Gram Panchayat Amali under Kota development block of Bilaspur district. The villagers have demanded immediate cancellation of the proposed environmental public hearing on 22 December 2025, calling it completely unconstitutional. With this demand, a large number of villagers, public representatives and farmers reached the collector’s office in Bilaspur and demonstrated and submitted a memorandum. Villagers allege that the documents related to the project are fake, PESA law has been violated and environmental impacts have been deliberately hidden.
ignore money law
Villagers say that Gram Panchayat Amali is a tribal dominated area, where PESA Act is applicable. In such a situation, the consent of Gram Sabha and PESA Committee is mandatory for any industrial project. It is alleged that the no objection certificate presented by the company is fake and the approval of the actual Gram Sabha was not taken.
Industrial diversion of land without public hearing
The villagers alleged that the company did not have an industrial diversion certificate for the land. Holding a public hearing without declaring the land as industrial is a direct violation of the Industrial Policy of the Government of India dated 14 November 2006. In this matter, legal action was demanded against the concerned officials and the company.
Public hearing held away from village, allegations of conspiracy
The villagers expressed strong objection to the public hearing being held not in village Amali but in the Government Niranjan Kesharwani College located in Kota, about 6 kilometers away. Villagers say that this was done deliberately so that the people of Amali could not participate in the public hearing and consent could be shown through brokers.
Village roads and lives both in danger due to heavy vehicles
Villagers said that the road connecting Amali is built under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, which has a load capacity of 12 tonnes, while heavy vehicles of 80 to 120 tonnes will be used to transport coal. Due to this, there is a possibility of road deterioration, accidents and danger to the lives of villagers.
Serious questions on EIA report
The villagers also termed the company’s EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) report as fake. It is alleged that the Tiger Reserve and forest area starts just 6 kilometers from the project site, for which there is no mention in the report. Describing this as a serious crime, a demand was made to cancel the FIR and registration against the consultant company.
Allegation of irregularities in purchasing tribal land
The villagers raised the question that the company has not given clear details of the people from whom it has purchased the land. In a tribal dominated area, it is doubtful for a general category person to have 9 hectares of land. It is alleged that tribal land has been purchased illegally.
Threat to Arpa Barrage, Dam and farming
Villagers say that many water sources including Arpa Barrage, Chachahi Dam, Kori Dam will be affected by the coal washery. Water pollution will increase the risk of diseases like skin diseases, jaundice. Agriculture will be affected due to groundwater exploitation and the paddy crop will be blackened by coal dust.
Crisis on green belt and religious-archaeological sites
This area is declared a green belt, where mountains, forests, medicinal plants and wild animals are found. Also nearby is the Tiger Reserve, National Park and Mahamaya Temple of archaeological importance, which was not mentioned in the EIA report. The villagers called it a serious criminal act.
Allegation of illegal occupation and construction
Villagers Jagprasad Sahu and Malechram Sahu alleged that their Khasra No. 1245 land has been encroached upon without registration. Apart from this, even before the environmental public hearing, illegal compound construction, bore mining and pond construction has been done on 35 acres of land.
movement warning
The villagers clearly said that if the public hearing is not canceled and the illegal constructions are not removed, they will approach the court and will be forced to carry out violent agitation. The villagers say that the land in the surrounding areas has become barren due to the coal washery, hence they will not allow the opening of a coal washery in their village under any circumstances.
