Public Story
Jharia
27,795
Jharia
Location: Kikinda, Serbia
Nationality: Serbia
Biography:
Neven Grujic was born in Serbia in 1967. Inspired by the thought that people who don’t travel end up thinking only about the values of their own society and culture and therefore they are deprived of new learnings and experiences, he went on...
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Focus:
Photographer, Documentary
Covering:
Asia,
Europe,
Skills:
Photo Editing, Photojournalism
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
Jharia, India 2020
The city of Jharia lies in the center of India's largest coal belt, in the northeast Indian state of Jharkhand. The coal needed to produce steel and operate Indian thermal power plants is being mined in this area.
Jharkhand is currently the second largest coal producer in the world. Immediately behind leading China, India provides enough coal for its own use, and has enough for worldwide exports. 90% of the mines are open and active, with continuous digging as well as spontaneous combustion of coal releasing unprecedented amounts of carbon monoxide, which directly affects global warming.
People living in this region suffer from severe respiratory and skin problems. Forced to breathe in harmful, even deadly air, they live only ten meters away from the excavations.Their properties have been destroyed and the only source of income is coal theft.
The stolen coal is then converted to turmeric and, as such, sold illegally on the black market.
Jharkhand is currently the second largest coal producer in the world. Immediately behind leading China, India provides enough coal for its own use, and has enough for worldwide exports. 90% of the mines are open and active, with continuous digging as well as spontaneous combustion of coal releasing unprecedented amounts of carbon monoxide, which directly affects global warming.
People living in this region suffer from severe respiratory and skin problems. Forced to breathe in harmful, even deadly air, they live only ten meters away from the excavations.Their properties have been destroyed and the only source of income is coal theft.
The stolen coal is then converted to turmeric and, as such, sold illegally on the black market.
The Indian state is unsuccessfully trying to solve this problem by relocating the entire population of Jharia to the newly built city of Belgharia.
The state-run resettlement initiative is the largest of its kind, aiming to relocate 70,000 families from their homes.
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
A woman on her way to collect the water from the small river near by Lilori Pathara village. It is their only source of water, eventhough the river is polluted with heavy metals. Jharia, India 2020
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
Children from Lilori Pathara village posing for a photo. Most of the children suffer from malnutrition, pulmonary deseases and skin conditions. India 2020
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
Ruins of a collapsed house damaged by the underground fires. Smoke, methane gas and flames are constantly coming out making life dangerous for the Lilori Pathara villagers. India 2020
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
A large open fire burns near Lilori Pathara village. These crackers are situated at few meters from residents house. India 2020
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
A man with his dog poses for photo. Bokapahari village, India 2020
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
Heavy machinery operating at one of the nine open cast mines. All coal mines belong to the BCCL company. India 2020
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
People working at MOCT, the biggest open cast mine. India 2020
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
Raju, miner from Jharia poses for a portrait. The miners work for 9-10 hours a day and make $ 3 a day loading the coal trucks in the BCCL coal mines. India 2020
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
Ilegal miners collect coal in the early morning hours. The coal mine belonging to the BCCL company has been closed for years, but even without any general knowledge about mining they risk their lives every day anyway. India 2020
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
Miners's feet covered in coal dust. India 2020
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
Workers in MOCT open cast mine are loading a truck with coal using baskets that they carry on top of their heads. India 2020
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
People collecting the coal which fell out of the transporting truck. They take the coal to their villages and make charcoal. India 2020
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
Residents making charcoal of the stolen coal next to their houses in Bokapahagri village. The process takes about 12 hours. India 2020
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
A man making charcoal of the stolen coal in Lilori Pathara village. India 2020
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
People from the Gothar village are packing charcoal which they made the night before in order to sell it at ilegal market. India 2020.
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© 2023 Neven Grujic
A man is transporting packed charcoal to sell at ilegal market in the nearby city of Dhanbad. Usually the load weighs around 350 kg. Every sack sells for around $1.5. The majority of buyers are common people that use the charcoal in their households. India 2020
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