Authorities in Bokaro have imposed prohibitory orders within 50 metres of the main gate of JSW Steel’s Parbatpur coal block after landowners announced a proposed indefinite closure of the gate over alleged denial of employment to 237 displaced raiyats.
The order was issued by Chas sub-divisional magistrate Pranjal Dhanda under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. It came into effect at 5 am on October 29 and will remain in force until further orders, according to the report.
The restrictions cover the area around the coal block’s main gate in Chas subdivision. The administration has prohibited assemblies of five or more people, processions, rallies, meetings, sit-ins and demonstrations within the restricted zone. Carrying firearms, traditional weapons and excavation tools, including spades and pickaxes, has also been barred.
The action followed information received by the administration about the proposed closure of the gate by protesters. “The administration has acted after receiving information about the proposed closure of the coal block’s main gate by the protesters,” Dhanda said, according to the report.
Landowners began an indefinite dharna on October 26, seeking jobs from JSW Steel for 237 eligible raiyats. The dispute involves families displaced by the coal project and places employment commitments linked to land acquisition at the centre of the protest.
The restrictions come as the Parbatpur coal block moves towards operationalisation. JSW Steel acquired the block through an auction in 2023. Its development had remained stalled because of delays in obtaining the mining lease and other statutory clearances. The report said the mining lease has now been secured and production is expected to begin soon.
The coal block covers approximately 2,174.52 acres and is among the projects expected to increase industrial activity and employment in the region. Its location also gives the employment dispute significance beyond the immediate protest site: the administration is managing a conflict between the project’s next operational phase and demands from families identified in the report as displaced landowners.
For the district administration, the immediate objective of the order is to prevent a gathering or gate closure that could disrupt access to the coal block. For the protesters, the stated issue is whether eligible displaced raiyats will receive employment from the company before the project begins production.
The order remains in force until further directions from the administration. The report does not specify whether JSW Steel or the protesters have announced a formal agreement, nor does it provide details of any further meeting or administrative process to resolve the employment demand.
