SECL’s Amera Opencast Mine Faces Violent Protest; Operations Resume on December 3, 2025
Mining operations at SECL’s Amera Opencast Mine in Sarguja resumed partially after violent protests on December 3, 2025. District officials, including senior police officers, were injured as villagers resisted land possession. Additional police forces later cleared the site.
Sarguja, Chhattisgarh, December 3, 2025: Mining activities at the Amera Opencast Mine of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) were partially restored on Wednesday evening following violent clashes between agitating villagers and district officials earlier in the day. The incident occurred as authorities attempted to negotiate with protestors refusing to vacate land already acquired for the project.
Amera Opencast Mine, located in the Bishrampur Area of SECL, is a 1.0 MTPA coal project spread across multiple villages including Parsodikala, Amera, Puhputra, and Katkona. The land, measuring 664.184 hectares, was acquired in 2001 under the Coal Bearing (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957, after which mining began in 2011.
Mining operations had previously continued until 2019 but were halted due to resistance from a section of villagers reportedly influenced by individuals involved in illegal coal-related activities. SECL had filed FIRs in connection with past disturbances. With support from the State Administration, the company resumed operations in 2024 after providing compensation and rehabilitation benefits to Project Affected Persons (PAPs). Compensation of nearly Rs. 10 crore has been disbursed so far, along with employment as per the district R and R guidelines.
However, tensions escalated once again as the mining project expanded towards Parsodikala village. According to officials, villagers, allegedly incited by local miscreants, refused to vacate the acquired land and prevented mine operations starting from November 8, 2025.
On December 03, a team comprising the ASP, SDM, Tehsildar, and mine officials reached the site at 10:00 AM to reopen discussions with the agitators. Instead of negotiating, the protesting group reportedly began pelting stones, injuring several officials including the ASP. Around 1:00 PM, the Additional Collector of Sarguja also arrived to mediate but was similarly attacked.
As the situation intensified, additional police forces were deployed, and the crowd was dispersed. With security restored, SECL deployed machinery and resumed partial mining operations from 5:00 PM.
Authorities are expected to continue discussions to prevent further disruptions and ensure safe, lawful continuation of mining operations.