Bellora mining row: High Court issues notice to Chanda collector and Ngp div comm

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has issued notices to the collector of Chandrapur and the divisional commissioner of Nagpur after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Sudhakar Mahadev Matte and others, raising serious concerns over coal mining operations being carried out in Bellora village, located in Chandrapur's Bhadrawati taluka.
This comes after the PIL was filed against a private firm, accusing them of undertaking illegal mining at the Takli-Jena-Bellora (North) and Takli-Jena-Bellora (South) opencast-cum-underground coal mines.
The petitioners allege that mining activities are being carried out without adhering to the mandatory procedures under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
In the PIL, they argue that these violations have not only displaced villagers but also seriously impacted the environment and disrupted essential services such as healthcare, primary education, and road connectivity across at least 11 villages in the Bhadrawati region. The PIL also points out that the authorities, including the rehabilitation machinery and mining departments of the state and central governments, have failed to regulate the mining activities, thereby abdicating their statutory duties.
The PIL demands that mining leases, environmental clearances, and other permissions granted to the private player be revoked. The petitioners, represented by advocate Renuka Sirpurkar, have sought a declaration that the acquisition agreement dated November 5, 1999, regarding the coal block stands lapsed due to non-compliance with essential conditions. They also seek immediate suspension of mining activities until the company complies with the legal requirements under land acquisition and rehabilitation laws.
Further, the petition calls for the constitution of an independent expert committee to investigate the extent of violations by the firm and demands that responsible government officials be held accountable. Specific allegations have been made against officials such as the Tahsildar of Bhadrawati and the Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat Takli, who, according to the petitioners, misused their positions to favour the private mining company.
During the hearing, the divisional bench comprising Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Vrushali Joshi briefly heard the matter. The court issued notices making them returnable on May 8, 2025. Additional Government Pleader SM Ukey and advocate CJ Dumane represented the respondents.