Lok Sabha Question No. 828 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Illegal Mining and Theft in Various Coal Mines
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 828 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2018

## Illegal Mining and Theft in Various Coal Mines

## 828. SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY :

Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:

- (a) whether illegal mining and theft in various coal mines is on the rise in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of illegal mining and theft cases registered during each of the last three years and the current year, Statewise; and
- (d)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  detect  and  prevent  illegal  mining  and  theft  in  the  coal mines of the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (c) : As per information received from Coal India Limited (CIL), theft / pilferage and illegal mining of coal  is carried out stealthily and clandestinely, as such, it is not possible to specify the exact quantum of coal stolen and losses incurred on account of theft / pilferage and illegal mining of coal.

However, as per raids conducted by security personnel as well as joint raids with the law and order  authorities  of  the  concerned  State  Government,  the  quantity  of  coal  recovered  and  its approximate value during the last three years and the current year are as under:

## ILLEGAL MINING AND THEFT/PILFERAGE OF COAL IN CIL:-

|                | 2014-15             | 2014-15                  | 2015-16             | 2015-16                  | 2016-17             | 2016-17                  | 2017-18 (upto Nov'17) (Provisional)   | 2017-18 (upto Nov'17) (Provisional)   |
|----------------|---------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|--------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
|                | Qty. Recovered (te) | Approx. Value (Rs. Lakh) | Qty. Recovered (te) | Approx. Value (Rs. Lakh) | Qty. Recovered (te) | Approx. Value (Rs. Lakh) | Qty. Recovered (te)                   | Approx. Value (Rs. Lakh)              |
| Illegal Mining | 173.75              | 2.245                    | 112.77              | 5.560                    | 1292.40             | 62.620                   | 73.00                                 | 2.408                                 |
| Theft/         | 19623.16            | 711.570                  | 20428.89            | 937.110                  | 25296.16            | 1157.556                 |                                       |                                       |
| Pilferage      |                     |                          |                     |                          |                     |                          | 10199.46                              | 475.199                               |

## FIRS  LODGED IN CASE OF ILLEGAL MINING AND THEFT/PILFERAGE OF COAL STATEWISE

| State       | 2014-15        | 2014-15         | 2015-16        | 2015-16         | 2016-17        | 2016-17         | 2017-18 (upto Nov'17) (Provisional)   | 2017-18 (upto Nov'17) (Provisional)   |
|-------------|----------------|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
|             | Illegal Mining | Theft/Pilferage | Illegal Mining | Theft/Pilferage | Illegal Mining | Theft/Pilferage | Illegal Mining                        | Theft/Pilferage                       |
| WB          | 2              | 27              | 17             | 116             | 8              | 241             | 37                                    | 99                                    |
| Jharkhand   | 4              | 22              | 1              | 30              | 8              | 45              | 14                                    | 24                                    |
| UP          | 0              | 0               | 0              | 0               | 0              | 1               | 0                                     | 0                                     |
| Maharashtra | 0              | 13              | 0              | 6               | 0              | 19              | 0                                     | 9                                     |
| MP          | 0              | 2               | 0              | 0               | 0              | 2               | 0                                     | 1                                     |
| Chattisgarh | 0              | 1               | 0              | 6               | 0              | 1               | 0                                     | 1                                     |
| Orissa      | 0              | 4               | 0              | 0               | 0              | 1               | 0                                     | 0                                     |
| Assam       | 1              | 66              | 0              | 35              |                | 31              | 0                                     | 16                                    |
| Coal India  | 7              | 135             | 18             | 193             | 16             | 341             | 51                                    | 150                                   |

(d)  :  Law  &  Order  is  a  State  subject,  hence  primarily  it  is  the  responsibility  of  the  State/District administration to take necessary deterrent action to stop/curb illegal mining, theft / pilferage of coal etc.

Illegal  mining of coal: Following suitable steps are being taken where ever illegal mining of coal takes place:

- (i) Rat holes created by illegal mining are being dozed off and filled up with stone and debris wherever possible.
- (ii) Concrete walls have been erected on the mouth of the abandoned mines to prevent access and illegal activities in these areas.
- (iii) Surprise  raids/checks  being  conducted  jointly  by  security  personnel  and  law  and  order authorities of the concerned State Government.
- (iv) Fencing  is  being  constructed  at  the  various  illegal  mining  sites  along  with  displaying  of signboards mentioning 'Dangerous and Prohibited Place.'
- (v) Collection of intelligence reports about illegal coal depots and illegal movement of coal and informing district authorities of the same for taking preventive action.
- (vi) Installation of check-posts at vulnerable points to check transport documents;
- (vii) The coal companies maintain close liaison with the State authorities.
- (viii) Committee/task force has been constituted at different level (block level, sub-divisional level, district level, state level) in some subsidiaries of CIL to monitor different aspects of illegal mining.

Theft / pilferage of coal: Following steps are taken to check such incidents-

- i. Radio-Frequency  Identification  Device  (RFID)  based  Boom  Barriers  and  CCTV  camera  at weighbridges,  GPRS  based  vehicle  tracking  system  with  geofencing,  CCTV  camera  at strategic locations of all mines have been installed.
- ii. Regular FIRs are lodged by the Colliery Management and CISF with local Thana. A close watch on the activities of criminals is being kept by CISF.
- iii. Interaction and liaison with District officials at regular intervals and holding meeting with DC & other District Administrative Officials.
- iv. Challans  for  coal  transportation  by  trucks  outside  the  district  are  being  issued  after  fixing hologram and putting signatures of authorized officials of CISF to check pilferage.
- v. Armed Guards have been deployed at Railway sidings.
- vi. Escorting of coal rakes in coordination with RPF upto weighbridge, is arranged in pilferage prone areas.
- vii. Surprise re-weighment of coal loaded trucks is done at weighbridges.
- viii. Surprise checks / raids are conducted by flying squads of CISF/security department.
- ix. Regular patrolling is conducted in and around the mine including OB dumps.
- x. Joint patrolling with local police is also being carried out in pilferage prone areas.
11. xi.

Check  posts  have  been  established  at  entry  /  exit  points  where  all  coal  laden  vehicles  are physically checked.

- xii. Security at coal dumps has been strengthened by fencing, proper illumination and round the clock guarding.

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