Lok Sabha Question No. 514 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Illegal Mining
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta, Ravindra Kushawaha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 514 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.09.2020

## ILLEGAL MINING

## 514. SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA: SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the large scale illegal mining and pilferage of coal;
- (b) if so, whether any steps have been taken by the Government in this regard during the last four years; and
- (c) the number of complaints regarding illegal mining and pilferage of coal that have been received during the last three years and the action taken by the Government thereon, with State/UT-wise details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a): As  informed  by  Coal  India  Limited  (CIL),  illegal  mining  and  pilferage  of  coal  is reported  to  be  carried  out  mainly  from  abandoned  mines,  shallow  coal  seams,  situated  at remote/isolated places from the mines and are scattered over a large area. These are Law & Order  problems,  which  is  a  State  subject,  hence  primarily  falls  under  the  domain  of  the State/District  administration  to  take  necessary  deterrent  action  to  stop/curb  illegal  mining, theft, pilferage of coal. The coal companies are working in close coordination with the State /local administration to prevent theft /pilferage of coal.
- (b) The Management of Coal India Limited and its subsidiary companies lodges FIR with the local Thana to take necessary action. Following steps are taken to check such incidents-

## Theft / pilferage of coal:

-  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.
-  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.
-  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  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 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.

## Illegal mining of coal:

-  Concrete walls have been erected on the mouth of the abandoned mines to prevent access and illegal activities in these areas.
-  Surprise raids/checks being conducted jointly by security personnel and law and order authorities of the concerned State Government.
-  Dumping of the overburden is being done on the outcrop zones.
-  Installation of check-posts at vulnerable points.
-  Training of existing security/CISF personnel, refresher training and basic training of new recruits in security discipline for strengthening the security setup;
-  Maintaining close liaison with the State authorities.
-  Committee/task  force  has  been  constituted  at  different  level  (block  level,  subdivisional  level,  district  level,  state  level)  in  some  subsidiaries  of  CIL  to  monitor different aspects of illegal mining.

Ministry  of  Coal  has  launched  a  Mobile  App-KhananPrahari  and  web  App  Coal  Mines Surveillance  &  Management System (CMSMS) in July, 2018 for the purpose of detecting and taking action on unauthorized coal mining activities and enable law and order authorities to take suitable action in time.

(c) A total number of 424 complaints till 30 th August, 2020 has been generated through Khanan Prahari Mobile Application. Action on the complaints, which were found true after verification  by  nodal  officer,  is  taken  in  coordination  with  concerned  law  enforcement agencies.The state/UT wise details of which are as follows:-

|                                                    | CIL Area   | Non-CIL Area   | Non-CIL Area           | Non-CIL Area   | Non-CIL Area   | Non-CIL Area   | Non-CIL Area   | Non-CIL Area   |
|----------------------------------------------------|------------|----------------|------------------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
|                                                    |            |                | AssamChhatisgarhMadhya | Pradesh        | Odisha         | West Bengal    | Maharashtra    | Jharkhand      |
| Number of complaint generated                      | 292        | 4              | 10                     | 34             | 5              | 56             | 9              | 14             |
| Complaint verified                                 | 284        | 4              | 6                      | 4              | 2              | 1              | -              | -              |
| Complaint found true                               | 63         | 3              | -                      | -              | -              | -              | -              | -              |
| Complaint found false/repeat ed after verification | 221        | 1              | 6                      | 4              | 2              | 1              | -              | -              |
| Complaint yet to be verified                       | 8          | -              | 4                      | 30             | 3              | 55             | 9              | 14             |