Talcher Is Sitting on a Time Bomb’: MLA Slams MCL After Handidhua Cave-In.
DEBARANJAN SAMAL,
Associate editor,Odishabarta
TALCHER,(30/01/2026):Terming the Handidhua land collapse a “man-made disaster,” the Talcher MLA Braja kishore Pradhan on Thursday accused Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) and regulatory authorities of systemic failure in managing underground mining voids, warning that the coal town is “sitting on a ticking time bomb.”
The MLA’s remarks come two days after a large patch of land caved in at Handidhua Chowk on January 28, triggering panic among residents and reviving long-standing fears over subsidence caused by abandoned underground mines.
“This is not an accident. This is the result of decades of coal extraction without scientific backfilling. Coal was removed, sand was not filled, and people were left to live over hollow ground,” the MLA said.
‘Parliamentary assurance stands exposed’
The MLA pointed to a December 2021 assurance given by the Union coal ministry in Parliament, which stated that sand-stowing in the Handidhua and Deulabera underground mines would be completed within three to five years.
“Five years later, the ground has collapsed. Either the work was not done, or Parliament was misinformed,” he said, seeking a forensic audit of sand-stowing records.
MCL’s ‘faulty construction’ claim questioned
Taking aim at MCL’s standard explanation that surface cracks are due to poor construction, the MLA said the argument does not explain collapses in open land and public spaces.
“You cannot blame buildings when entire stretches of land give way. This is a mining failure, not a housing issue,” he said.
Only 42% voids filled, says data;
Citing official data, the MLA said only 41–42% of underground voids in Talcher have been backfilled, raising serious questions about mine safety clearances.
“Where is the remaining sand? Who certified these mines as safe?” he asked.
Relocation plan missing
The MLA also flagged the Talcher-Angul-Meramandali Development Authority (TAMDA) for declaring several areas unsafe for construction while failing to roll out a relocation or compensation package for residents already living there.
“If these areas are unsafe for new buildings, how are they safe for families who have lived here for decades?” he said.
Brahmani river risk flagged
Warning of a worst-case scenario, the MLA said a major collapse linking abandoned mines to the Brahmani river could lead to flooding of underground workings and destabilise the town.
“This could turn into a disaster much bigger than Handidhua if corrective steps are not taken immediately,” he said.
The MLA demanded:-An independent high-level technical audit of all underground mines in Talcher
Time-bound relocation and compensation for residents in high-risk zones
Public disclosure of mine-wise void maps and sand-stowing status
Accountability for officials who cleared safety compliance
