Angul – Residents of Kosala village, under Chhendipada block of Angul district, have decided to strongly oppose any coal transportation through their village via the Angul–Chhendipada State Highway No. 63. The villagers have warned that if coal is forcibly transported through Koshala, more than 15,000 people of the Kosala Gram Panchayat will stage mass protests on the highway and even submit an application to the President of India seeking permission for “voluntary death” as a mark of protest.
According to sources, Chhendipada block is set to become a major coal mining hub in the coming days. While some coal mines in the area have already become operational and coal transportation has begun, coal dispatch from the Naini coal mine in Chhendipada has not yet started. Reports that authorities are planning to use State Highway No. 63 passing through Koshala village for coal transportation from the Naini mine have caused serious concern among local residents.
Following this, villagers have held several meetings and sought information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act from the Pollution Control Department, Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department, and the Transport Department regarding whether the highway can legally be used for coal transportation. As per the information received, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, in its approval letter (IA/OR/CMIN/102794/2019 dated May 13, 2021), has not granted permission for coal transportation by road. Coal transport has been approved only through the Jarapada railway siding.
Despite this, villagers allege that mine authorities, with the support of a few influential individuals, are making attempts to transport coal through the village road. In response, an emergency village meeting was held under the leadership of village president Kutartha Dehury, where it was unanimously decided to completely oppose coal transportation through Koshala.
The villagers reiterated that if any attempt is made to forcibly transport coal, over 15,000 residents of the gram panchayat will take to the streets in protest and submit a petition to the President seeking permission for voluntary death. They stated that living amidst severe pollution caused by coal transportation is worse than death.
Kosala Gram Panchayat Sarpanch Udit Pradhan clarified that villagers are not opposed to coal mining itself, but strongly object to coal-laden trucks passing through the village. He demanded that coal should instead be transported via a bypass road or through railways.
As per the resolution adopted in the village meeting, no heavy vehicles will be allowed to pass through the village. If required, schools and colleges will be shut down and thousands of villagers will stage a sit-in protest on the state highway. Villager Siddharth Shankar Sahu reiterated that, if their demands are ignored, they will move forward with mass agitation and the proposed appeal to the President
