Jharia, India 2020
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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.
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.
 
Flames break through the ground from coal fires that burn underground at an open cast mine in Laltanganj village. Many of the villagers are relocated to Belgaria as part of the goverment's help program, but some of the villagers refused to go. India 2020
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Flames break through the ground from coal fires that burn underground at an open cast mine in Laltanganj village. Many of the villagers are relocated to Belgaria as part of the goverment's help program, but some of the villagers refused to go. India 2020
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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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

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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Children from Lilori Pathara village posing for a photo. Most of the children suffer from malnutrition, pulmonary deseases and skin conditions. India 2020
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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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

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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A large open fire burns near Lilori Pathara village. These crackers are situated at few meters from residents house. India 2020
A man with his dog poses for photo. Bokapahari village, India 2020
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A man with his dog poses for photo. Bokapahari village, India 2020
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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Heavy machinery operating at one of the nine open cast mines. All coal mines belong to the BCCL company. India 2020

People working at MOCT, the biggest open cast mine. India 2020
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People working at MOCT, the biggest open cast mine. India 2020

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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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
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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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
Miners's feet covered in coal dust. India 2020
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Miners's feet covered in coal dust. India 2020
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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Workers in MOCT open cast mine are loading a truck with coal using baskets that they carry on top of their heads. India 2020
A view of the MOCT open cast mine. The coal mine belongs to the BCCL company. India 2020
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A view of the MOCT open cast mine. The coal mine belongs to the BCCL company. India 2020

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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People collecting the coal which fell out of the transporting truck. They take the coal to their villages and make charcoal. India 2020

Men carrying the stolen coal on their heads. The baskets weigh 40-50kg each. Daily earnings are between $2.5 and $3. India 2020
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Men carrying the stolen coal on their heads. The baskets weigh 40-50kg each. Daily earnings are between $2.5 and $3. India 2020
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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Residents making charcoal of the stolen coal next to their houses in Bokapahagri village. The process takes about 12 hours. India 2020
A man making charcoal of the stolen coal in Lilori Pathara village. India 2020
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A man making charcoal of the stolen coal in Lilori Pathara village. India 2020
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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People from the Gothar village are packing charcoal which they made the night before in order to sell it at ilegal market. India 2020. 

After the charcole is packed, women from Gothar village carry the load to the trucks which then transfer the charcole to be sold at the ilegal market. India 2020
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After the charcole is packed, women from Gothar village carry the load to the trucks which then transfer the charcole to be sold at the ilegal market. India 2020
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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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
Families from various villages with underground fires have been rehabilitated in Belgharia township. The state-run resettlement initiative is the largest of its kind, aiming to relocate 70,000 families from their homes. Unemployment and alcohol abuse is very common. Belgharia, India 2020
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Families from various villages with underground fires have been rehabilitated in Belgharia township. The state-run resettlement initiative is the largest of its kind, aiming to relocate 70,000 families from their homes. Unemployment and alcohol abuse is very common. Belgharia, India 2020
An old man holding his grandchild. Belgharia, India 2020
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An old man holding his grandchild. Belgharia, India 2020

Neven Grujic

Documentary and Travel Photographer @ Freelance based in Serbia
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