Senior Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya today asked Coal Minister Piyush Goyal to stop work for an open cast mine in the Raniganj area of West Bengal till arrangements for drinking water for the locals are made.
The Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) has been carrying out excavation to create an open cast mine at the Kenda colliery in the Raniganj coalfield and has taken over a natural pit which was the only source of drinking water for the local people, Bhattacharya told PTI here.
The locals have been agitating on the issue for a fortnight, the Rajya Sabha member said, adding that he had written a letter to Goyal and spoken to the Coal India Chairman about the problem and seeking their immediate intervention.
He said till alternative arrangements are made to provide drinking water for the local populace, the ECL should stop its activities in the area.
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