In the territories of MCB, the Tehsildar of Chirimiri has ordered the management of the State Bank of India (SBI) Bartunga branch to be shifted as the area is potentially dangerous. This branch has been in operation since the year 1992 and is located about 2kilometers from the main Central Business District of the city. Adjacent to the Haldibadi-Badabazar-Godripara main road, at 5 kilometers, in a building owned and constructed by SECL (South Eastern Coalfields Limited). The branch holds an account balance for about 11,949 account holders, and approximately 75% of these move from Bartunga to other regions.
In an investigative report, it has been revealed that the SBI branch is located within the leasehold area of Chirimiri SECL’s open-cast mines within a coal-bearing area. The work in this area is highly dangerous because the coal mines explode often, and the quakes produced are very much felt inside the structures nearby. However, there are other threats connected with potential fires in the underground and with the further increase of the hazard level for the population due to the subsidence of the territory.
Given the conduct and analysis of the accident investigation, the district administration of HIM has ordered the State Bank of India to shift the Bartunga branch to a safer place by December 31, 2024. The administration has also threatened that if the branch is not relocated it by a stated date, the SBI Bartunga branch building will be closed to prevent possible accidents.
This directive underlines the evident fact that the situation in the area where coal-bearing operations continue is highly acute not only from the viewpoint of potential destructive impact on the stability of buildings and constructions but also in terms of potential threat to the lives and health of the residents and employees of the area. Therefore, the decision to transfer the SBI branch is an important measure aimed at reducing these risks and saving the lives and property of the population in the area.
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