Surda mine closed for three years, hundreds of families destroyed
Musabani (East Singhbhum), Ashok Satpati: The closure of copper mines in Musabani in East Singhbhum devastated the families of hundreds of labourers. HCL’s Surda mine has been closed for more than three years. The once buzzing area is today in a state of desolation. About 560 workers of Surda Mines, Surda Phase II and Musabani Plant are affected by the closure of Surda Mines. Some laborers of Surda Mines are getting employment for a few days in a month in the name of essential services. A large number of laborers are unemployed. About 250 laborers have been deprived of employment for more than three years. 110 laborers of Surda Phase II are unemployed for more than three years. Musabani plant is closed due to shortage of ore. About 200 laborers are unemployed.
laborers have become helpless
One by one locks were installed in the mines in Musabani. On the other hand, due to unemployment, the laborers and their families were in dire straits. Many laborers got caught in the cheek of untimely times due to illness and without proper treatment. On the other hand, many laborers were forced to migrate for the maintenance of the family and for the education of the children. Due to financial constraints, many children missed their studies. There is no one to take care of the families of such laborers.
Why Surda Mines is closed for three years
Surda Mines is closed since April, 2020 due to non-renewal of lease extension. 1500 laborers became unemployed. The state government extended the lease in December, 2021
Global tender contract company MMPL got to restart Surda Mines. The contracting company started the work of commissioning the mines on 15 April 2022.
On June 24, 2022, in the presence of MP Vidyut Varan Mahto, MLA Ramdas Soren, DFO Mamta Priyadarshi and Mining Director of HCL, the operation of the ore laden Hiva was started.
Surda Mines did not get mining challan due to difference in lease area and environment clearance
Due to non-transportation of ore produced from Surda Mines, the contract company stopped production in Surda Mines from January.
Surda Mines was leased by the state government for 388 hectares, while environmental clearance was given for 323 hectares. Surda has 65 hectares of forest land. HCL again applied for environment clearance. The matter is pending between the state and the central government.
In the absence of mining challan, about 50 thousand tonnes of ore is being wasted in the Surda mines complex.
Surda Phase-II is closed from April 1, 2020. There is a dispute going on between the contracting company Shriram EPC and HCL.
In the words of the workers, their problems…
Working as porter for family and children: Majho Hansda
Majho Hansda, a resident of Tambajudi, is an assistant dealer in Surda Mines. Unemployed for more than last 3 years. The financial condition of the family is bad. Under compulsion, I am working as a coolie in the construction work. Due to unemployment, the education of children has also been affected.
Was an operator in the company, today I am wandering for wages: Surju
Surju Murmu, a resident of Sohda, is an assistant LSD operator in Four Soft of Surda Mines. Unemployed for more than last three years. The financial condition of the family has deteriorated. Suraj is wandering here and there for daily wages. He does not get work everyday. Children’s education has been affected.
Mother sells bones, then the stove burns in the house: Champai
Champai Murmu, a resident of Surda Burju Tola, is working as an assistant dealer in Surda Mines. He is unemployed for more than 3 years due to closure in Surda Mines. His mother is helping to run the family by selling bones under compulsion. The situation is that how will the stove burn in the house? It has to be thought.
Due to not being able to pay the fees, children had to be put in government school: Soben Hansda
Soben Hansda, a resident of Lipudih Tola of Pathargoda, is a ventilation assistant in Surda Mines. Unemployed for the last three years. The financial condition of the family is bad. The children used to study in a private school. However, due to not being able to pay school fees on time, children are being taught in government schools.
Was an assistant dealer, today has to drive: Niran Hansda
Niran Hansda, a resident of Surda Crossing, is working as an assistant dealer in Surda Mines. Work has stopped for the last three years. He is working as a driver for the education of the children and the expenses of the family. In this too, crisis often arises due to non-availability of work. Can’t understand what to do.
Could not get repairs done due to financial constraints, the house got destroyed: Shanti Murmu
Sitaram Murmu, a resident of Surda Latardih Tola, works in Four Soft of Surda Mines. Work has stopped for the last three years. Due to this, he is maintaining his family by doing daily wages in Ghatshila. According to wife Shanti Murmu, the financial condition of the family is bad. The house collapsed due to lack of timely repairs.
I am working as a laborer on a tractor to maintain my family: Viru Sabar
Veeru Sabar, a resident of Surda Shyam Tola, used to work as an assistant loco trimmer in Surda Mines. He is unemployed for more than three years due to closure of mines. For the maintenance of the family, Veeru has to work as a laborer in a tractor. The family is facing financial problems due to the closure of mines. Children’s education is affected.
Used to work for shaft sinking, now sustenance from wages: Hari
Hari Sabar, a resident of Surda Shyam Tola, works for shaft sinking in Surda Phase-II. Soft construction work has stopped for more than three years. He has become unemployed. According to wife Sumitra Sabar, the family is being maintained by doing daily wages in the tractor.
Husband’s death after mines closure, wife is taking care of children
Sona Sabar, a resident of Surda Jahirtola, died in the year 2020 due to mines closure. Sona used to work as a pipe fitter in Surda Mines. According to wife Basanti, the economic situation worsened due to the closure of mines. Husband could not get proper treatment. She is handling the responsibility of two children. She is a ward member of Benashol Panchayat.
Husband died due to lack of treatment, I am also paralyzed
Mangal Hansda, a resident of Sohda, who worked as an assistant blaster in Surda Mines, suddenly became unemployed. Could not get proper treatment due to financial constraints. In this case, he died untimely. Wife Sonia Hansda has the burden of maintaining three children. Sonia became paralyzed in shock. His family was devastated by the closure of mines.
