**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 758 concerning the Jharia Coalfields Master Plan (JMP), answered on February 4, 2026. The response outlines the progress of the Revised JMP, including family rehabilitation, fire control, and land rehabilitation, under the supervision of the Minister of Coal & Mines. The target date for shifting the remaining families is December 2028.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Revised Jharia Master Plan (JMP):**
* Approved by the Central Government on June 25, 2025.
* Identifies 81 high-risk sites to be dealt with in the initial phase.
* Envisages rehabilitation of 15,080 affected families from these 81 sites.
* Total outlay of Rs. 5940.47 crore has been approved for the Revised JMP.
* **Family Rehabilitation:**
* 15,080 families identified for shifting (649 BCCL and 14,431 Non-BCCL).
* 1,393 families already shifted (649 BCCL and 744 Non-BCCL).
* 13,687 families remain to be shifted (0 BCCL and 13,687 Non-BCCL).
* Timeline for shifting the balance families is December 2028.
* **Fire Control:**
* Surface fire area reduced from 3.26 sq km in 2017-18 to 1.53 sq km in 2024-25.
* Out of 27 fire locations in 2017-18, 17 have been dealt with as of December 2025.
* **Funding:**
* Coal India Limited (CIL) required to provide Rs. 500 crore per year plus interest earned.
* Funding from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) is utilized by DC Dhanbad, whenever required.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Affected Families
* **Impact:** Gradual relocation and rehabilitation of affected families as per the Revised JMP.
* **Action Required:** Await shifting and rehabilitation under the JMP; cooperation with shifting process.
**Stakeholder:** Coal India Limited (CIL)
* **Impact:** Required to provide funding for the JMP.
* **Action Required:** Allocate Rs. 500 crore annually (plus interest) to the JMP.
**Stakeholder:** DC Dhanbad / District Mineral Foundation (DMF)
* **Impact:** Contributes funding to JMP as needed.
* **Action Required:** Provide additional funding as required.
Key Entities Referenced
Jharia Coalfields Master Plan: A plan for fire control, land rehabilitation, and rehabilitation of affected families in the Jharia Coalfields.
Revised Jharia Master Plan (JMP): A revised version of the Jharia Master Plan approved by the Central Government for mitigating risks and hazards in the Jharia coalfields, including shifting affected families.
Ministry of Coal: The government ministry responsible for addressing questions related to the Jharia Coalfields Master Plan.
Coal India Limited (CIL): An organization required to provide funding in addition to the revised Jharia Master Plan.
Dhanbad: Location of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF), which provides funding for the Jharia Coalfields Master Plan.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COAL
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 758
ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026
Jharia Coalfields Master Plan
†758. Shri Rajpalsinh Mahendrasinh Jadav:
Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:
(a) the current status of the implementation of the Jharia Master Plan for fire control,
land rehabilitation and rehabilitation of affected families;
(b) the number of the families relocated and awaiting for rehabilitation so far along with
the timelines set for completing the remaining rehabilitation work;
(c) the number of underground coal fires extinguished or controlled since the last
review;
(d) whether the Government propose any additional fund or revised strategies to
expedite the mitigation of subsidence risks and safety hazards in the Jharia coalfields;
and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COAL & MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a), (b) and (c): Revised Jharia Master Plan (JMP) has been approved by the Central
Government on 25.06.2025. Under the Revised JMP, 81 high-risk sites have been
identified to be dealt with in the initial phase. Revised JMP envisages rehabilitation of
15,080 affected families from these 81 sites and dealing with fire & subsidence.
The details of families identified for shifting, shifted and balance to be shifted are as
follows:–
BCCL Families Non-BCCL Families Total
Identified for shifting 649 14431 15,080
Shifted 649 744 1,393
Balance to be shifted 0 13687 13,687
The timeline for shifting the balance families under Revised JMP is December 2028.
As per the NRSC (National Remote Sensing Centre) survey report of 2017-18, the
surface fire area was 3.26 sq km (in 27 fire locations), which was reduced to 1.80 sq
km in 2020-21 and further reduced to 1.53 sq km in the year 2024-25. Out of 27 fire
locations in 2017-18, a total of 17 fire locations have been dealt with as on December
2025.(d) & (e): The Revised JMP has been approved with a total outlay of Rs. 5940.47 crore.
In addition to this, Coal India Limited (CIL) is required to provide Rs. 500 crore per
year and interest earned thereof. Also, funding from the District Mineral Foundation
(DMF) is utilised by DC Dhanbad, whenever required.
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