The wealthiest coal reserves in India also pose significant risks to the well-being of workers and residents in the surrounding areas. The constant threat of homes collapsing or being engulfed in flames due to ground subsidence and long-burning coal fires, some of which have persisted for a century, poses an imminent danger to thousands of individuals residing in the Jharkhand and Raniganj regions, located approximately 300 kilometers northwest of Kolkata.

The potential for sudden fatalities and injuries often compels people, especially vulnerable migrant laborers, to abruptly abandon everything and seek refuge elsewhere. This abrupt exodus not only results in job loss and a loss of income sources but also contributes to social disintegration. It exposes migrants to further impoverishment as they struggle to secure employment and establish themselves in new locations.

In the Jharia coalfields, where subterranean fires have been smoldering for over a century, land subsidence incidents frequently lead to houses catching fire, fatalities, and families being compelled to vacate their properties and flee. These occurrences are unfortunately common in Jharia. However, it is worth noting that these mines yield the highest quality coal in India, which accounted for 44 percent of the country's primary energy demand in 2020.

Despite the constant peril, many of those employed in these mines find it challenging to relocate and settle elsewhere. This is largely because local residents are apprehensive about losing their daily source of income derived from coal collection. In the absence of alternative sources of income, collecting and selling burnt, high-grade coal in the market is their means of making a living.

Even if they desire to relocate to escape the hazards of living in proximity to a coal mine, the absence of resettlement and rehabilitation programs makes it difficult for most to find suitable places for resettlement.

The establishment of the Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority aims to offer alternative employment opportunities and facilitate the resettlement of people in safer environments. However, relocating away from coal mines often presents challenges in terms of earning a livelihood. This is due to lower wages and a lack of job opportunities in manufacturing industries and other sectors that do not require formal education. Consequently, many individuals opt to return to their deteriorating homes and engage in informal mining despite the ongoing hazards. A significant proportion of the homeless population is involved in illegal coal extraction, further complicating efforts to promote sustainable living elsewhere, as a substantial number choose not to settle in alternative areas.

India's Central Mine Planning and Design Institute has identified more than eight mine areas within the Raniganj Coalfield as high-risk and unstable. In these areas, over 100,000 people are at risk of being compelled to flee due to the threat of building collapses, ground subsidence, mine fires, or other accidents. One particularly vulnerable location is the Ratibati colliery in the Raniganj Community Development Block. This site is highly susceptible to land subsidence due to the extensive underground network beneath the surface. A population of over 30,000 people faces the imminent risk of cave-ins or becoming victims of sudden ground movement.

In towns such as Parashkol, Jambad, Majhipara, and others near coal mines in the Ondal Block, houses have unexpectedly collapsed as the ground beneath them gave way. In 2020, a significant exodus occurred as a result of ground subsidence in the Madhabpur open-cast mine within the Raniganj Coalfield. More than 400 individuals fled their homes to seek shelter elsewhere, as their houses developed cracks or collapsed.

Typically, individuals forced to flee their homes due to such disasters receive compensation for the land and houses they have lost, along with the offer of a government job for one member of the displaced family. However, rehabilitation agencies have raised concerns, alleging that many residents encroach upon land owned by Coal India Limited and then claim rehabilitation benefits. Local residents, on the other hand, point to a lack of coordination between the Asansol Durgapur Development Authority, Eastern Coalfields Limited (the mining company), and the housing department of West Bengal as the primary reason for the ineffective implementation of rehabilitation packages.

In cases involving land subsidence and mine fire outbreaks, residents living adjacent to the collieries are sometimes rapidly relocated to abandoned quarters owned by Eastern Coalfields Limited. Unfortunately, these quarters often lack basic amenities, such as potable water connections. In some instances, the pipes are damaged due to land subsidence, leaving people to cope with daily challenges amidst uncertainty. The monsoon season exacerbates these risks, as excessive rainfall can lead to flooding.

A notable example is the September 2021 deluge in the Raniganj coalfield, which resulted in flooding of the open-cast mines and left people stranded without access to water, food, and medical supplies in submerged areas near the collieries for nearly a week. Coal seams remained inaccessible to workers for about three months, necessitating their rescue and relocation by the disaster response forces of the Disaster Management and Civil Defence Department of West Bengal.

In many ways, the mass movement of people in coal mining regions is unavoidable. Coal mining often attracts impoverished and marginalized individuals who depend on scavenging through scraps of partially burnt coal to make a living, despite the life-threatening risks involved. Considering the instability, subsidence, and fire-prone nature of land resulting from the expansion, operations, and production of coal in India, questions arise about the continuation of coal mining operations, especially in an era when global commitments are being made to reduce carbon footprints and greenhouse gas emissions.

Perhaps now is the time to include plans for transitioning to sustainable energy sources, along with the development of alternative livelihoods for residents currently dependent on coal scavenging and informal coal mining.