Lok Sabha Question No. 2399 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Theft Incidents during Transportation of Coal
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: HARI OM PANDEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2399 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2018

## Theft Incidents during Transportation of Coal

## 2399.  SHRI HARI OM PANDAY :-

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any information regarding mass theft incidents during transportation of coal;
- (b) if so, the State-wise details thereof;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the details of steps taken to curb such practices and the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS, COAL, FINANCE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a), (b), (c) & ( 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  theft during transportation of coal. As informed by Coal India Limited (CIL), there is no case of mass theft incident during transportation of coal in command area of Coal India Ltd.

However, coal companies have taken following steps to check theft / pilferage of coal:

- -Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) based Boom Barriers and closed-circuit television  (CCTV)  camera  at  weighbridges,  General  Packet  Radio  Services  (GPRS) based vehicle tracking system with geofencing, CCTV camera at strategic locations of all mines have been installed.
- -First Information Reports (FIRs) are lodged by the Colliery Management and Central Industrial  Security  Force  (CISF)  with  local  Thana,  whenever  such  incidents  are reported. A close watch on the activities of criminals is being kept by CISF.
- -Interaction and liaison with District officials at regular intervals and holding meeting with Officials of the State Administration.
- -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.
- -Armed Guards have been deployed at Railway sidings.
- -Escorting  of  coal  rakes  in  coordination  with  Railway  Protection  Force  (RPF)  upto weighbridge, is arranged in pilferage prone areas.
- -Surprise re-weighment of coal loaded trucks is done at weighbridges.
- -Surprise checks / raids are conducted by flying squads of CISF/security department.
- -Regular  patrolling  is  conducted  in  and  around  the  mine  including  over  burden  (OB) dumps.
- -Joint patrolling with local police is also being carried out in pilferage prone areas.
- -Check posts have been established at entry / exit points where all coal laden vehicles are physically checked.
- -Security at coal dumps has been strengthened by fencing, proper illumination and round the clock guarding.
- -Coal Mine Surveillance & Management System (CMSMS) has been launched which is a web  GIS  application  through  which  location  of  sites  for  illegal  mining  can  be detected.  All coal leasehold boundaries and also the coal block boundaries (CIL, nonCIL and Captive) have been plotted on this system.

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