Viksit Odisha / Dharmendra Pradhan Calls for Rehabilitation, Pollution Control at Anugola MCL RPDAC Meet

Anugola, Sept 9: Sambalpur MP and former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday attended the RPDAC (Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee) meeting of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) in Anugola district, alongside Dhenkanal MP Rudra Narayan Pani, Talcher and Chhendipada MLAs, district officials, and MCL authorities.

ଅନୁଗୋଳ ଜିଲ୍ଲା ଏମସିଏଲର RPDAC ବୈଠକରେ ଜନସାଧାରଣଙ୍କ ସମସ୍ୟା, ଜମି ଅଧିଗ୍ରହଣ, ବିସ୍ଥାପିତଙ୍କୁ ଉଚିତ୍ କ୍ଷତିପୂରଣ, ଥଇଥାନ ଓ ରିହାବିଲିଟେସନ୍ କଲୋନୀ ଗୁଡ଼ିକର ସୁପରିଚାଳନା ସମ୍ପର୍କିତ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଏଜେଣ୍ଡା ଉପରେ ଢେଙ୍କାନାଳ ସାଂସଦ ଶ୍ରୀ ରୁଦ୍ର ନାରାୟଣ ପାଣି, ତାଳଚେର ବିଧାୟକ, ଛେଣ୍ଡିପଦା ବିଧାୟକ, ଜିଲ୍ଲା ପ୍ରଶାସନ ଓ… pic.twitter.com/UwNCEz1wVt

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 9, 2026

Pradhan said the meeting focused on critical issues including land acquisition, fair compensation for displaced families, proper rehabilitation colonies, and long‑term development of mining areas. He directed MCL to prepare a comprehensive “Master Plan” to ensure sustainable growth, adequate housing, employment opportunities, and allied facilities for affected communities.

The Sambalpur MP emphasized the need for a dedicated web portal to provide “one‑step solutions” to grievances, and proposed upgrading MCL’s Central Workshop into a “Centre of Excellence” for skill development in the mining sector. He also underlined the importance of effective utilization of CSR funds to benefit local communities.

Highlighting the government’s priority for SC and ST families, Pradhan said the “double engine government” is committed to safeguarding their interests. He stressed that rising pollution in Anugola and Talcher must be tackled through community participation and robust environmental protection measures.

Also Read: Dharmendra Pradhan Defends MMDR Act 2026, Rebuts Naveen’s Claims

The deliberations also touched upon compensatory afforestation to make up for forest loss caused by mining projects, alongside measures to strengthen local infrastructure through improved road and rail connectivity. Pradhan observed that such initiatives would not only bolster environmental safeguards but also reinforce the socio‑economic foundations of the coal belt.

The discussions underscored a wider effort to reconcile industrial growth with social responsibility and ecological balance in Odisha’s mining districts. The emphasis was on ensuring that economic expansion is matched by sustainable rehabilitation measures and stronger environmental safeguards.