Coal minister assures unauthorised occupants of Coal India quarters
The Statesman | 21 April 2026
Within 48 hours of yet another Calcutta High Court verdict on eviction, Union coal minister G Kishan Reddy, in a surprising move, has assured unauthorised occupants of Coal India quarters in poll-bound West Burdwan not to be alarmed by the legal directives.
The Calcutta High Court, on 18 April, upheld its earlier direction against unauthorised occupants of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited.
In line with two judgments, including one dated 1 April in favour of ECL, the court directed that unauthorised occupants of company quarters would be liable to pay rent, which the company could adjust from gratuity. The ruling sent a strong and unambiguous message against the unauthorised occupation of company housing after retirement and reinforced accountability in the use of public resources.
Reddy’s assurance has brought relief to thousands of families living unauthorised in ECL quarters just days before the Assembly polls. The minister said, “No one will be asked to vacate. I will handle the issue on my return to New Delhi soon.” His statement has eased fears in the area and strengthened the campaign of BJP nominee Jitendra Tiwari for the Pandaveswar Assembly seat.
While campaigning in Bahula, Reddy said: “Those served eviction notices by ECL management need not panic. I will meet senior officials in Delhi on Monday and we will prepare a new way for a permanent solution.” He added that the Modi-led Centre is committed to protecting the interests of workers and the underprivileged.
Tiwari’s promises to the anxious retired coal miners have received backing from the minister during the ongoing electoral battle. During his recent outreach in the Khottadih colliery area, Tiwari opposed and removed eviction notices pasted on the walls of colliery quarters and promised to arrange long-term leases for the houses, similar to the arrangements made at the Durgapur Steel Plant for retired employees.
The Coal Minister also visited the quarter of ECL employee Sanjit Singh to assess living conditions and housing status.
Targeting the TMC, Tiwari said, “We are Modi’s soldiers – we deliver what we promise. TMC goons, along with some corrupt ECL officers, conspired to make the poor homeless. We have foiled it.”
Trinamul Congress candidate for the seat, Narendranath Chakraborty, said: “We had moved the court challenging the BJP ministry’s eviction move. Now the coal minister has tried to play a political game to benefit Tiwari, which will not succeed.”