Legacy Mines, Living Risks: Handidhua Collapse Reignites Questions for MCL
“Talcher Can’t Be Allowed to Sink’: MP Flags Mining Negligence After Handidhua Cave-In”
DEBARANJAN SAMAL
Associate editor,Odishabarta
TALCHER:Calling the Handidhua land collapse a “preventable man-made disaster”, Dhenkanal MP Rudra Narayan Pany on Friday warned that Talcher’s coal belt is slipping into a dangerous cycle of neglect, delayed remediation and administrative complacency, putting thousands of residents at risk.
Reacting strongly to the January 28 cave-in at Handidhua Chowk, Pany said repeated subsidence incidents have exposed serious failures in underground mine closure, sand-stowing and post-mining monitoring by Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL).
“Talcher cannot be allowed to sink while it keeps the nation’s power plants running. Coal production cannot come at the cost of human safety,” the MP said.
‘Assurances on Paper, Craters on Ground’
The MP questioned repeated assurances by the Centre and coal PSU officials that abandoned underground mines in Talcher had been stabilised.
“If sand-stowing and void filling were completed as claimed, why do craters keep appearing in inhabited areas? There is a clear gap between official statements and ground reality,” Pany said, adding that temporary surface filling with sand and soil is no substitute for scientific mine stabilisation.
Parliamentary Escalation Planned
With Parliament in session, Pany said he would formally raise the issue, seeking accountability from the Union coal ministry, DGMS and MCL’s top management.
“This is no longer an isolated incident. It is a pattern that demands parliamentary scrutiny and independent technical audits,” he said.
Warnings Ignored, Risks Mounting
Talcher has witnessed multiple subsidence incidents over the past four decades, largely linked to unmapped underground voids left behind by legacy mining operations. Despite repeated warnings from experts and local residents, long-term mitigation has remained slow and fragmented.
The latest collapse has intensified fears among residents living above old mine galleries, particularly in Handidhua and surrounding belts.
‘People Living in Fear Cannot Be the Cost of Coal’
Pany said immediate safety measures, transparent risk communication and rehabilitation plans must be prioritised.
“People cannot be asked to live with fear under their feet. If areas are unsafe, authorities must say so clearly and act decisively,” he said.
Pressure Mounts on MCL
The MP stressed that responsibility lies squarely with MCL and regulatory bodies to ensure legacy mining damage is addressed scientifically, not cosmetically.
“Talcher’s contribution to national energy security only increases the responsibility of mining agencies. Delays and half-measures are no longer acceptable,” he added.
Background:
The Handidhua collapse has renewed demands for independent geological mapping, time-bound underground void filling and accountability for past mining lapses, as public anger grows over repeated subsidence incidents in the Talcher coal belt.
