Lok Sabha Question No. 2569 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-04
Subject: Pilferage of Coal
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Supriya Sadanand Sule

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2569 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2019 Pilferage of Coal

## 2569.   DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S.:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:

- a. whether Government attention is drawn to huge increase in pilferage and theft of coal in  the  Coal  India  and  its  subsidiaries  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons therefor;
- b. the problem faced by the Government in controlling theft of coal during transportation;
- c. the quantum of loss of exchequer due to pilferage and theft of coal;
- d. whether the Government has made any assessment in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- e. whether the Government has advised coal companies to work in close coordination with  the  State/local  administration  to  prevent  theft/pilferage  of  coal  and  if  so,  the details thereof and the achievement made;
- f. whether the Government of India has launched mobile App namely 'KhananPrahri' and  web  App  'Coal  Mine  Surveillance  and  Management  System  (CMSMS)'  for monitoring and reporting unauthorised coal mining activities and enable the Law & Order Authority to take suitable action in time; and
- g. if so, the number of cases reported and the action taken against persons who indulge in theft and pilferage?

## ANSWER

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

- a. to (d) :  As per information received from Coal India Ltd., theft/pilferage of coal are carried  out  stealthily  and  clandestinely.  So,  it  is  difficult  to  assess  and  specify  the exact  quantum  of  coal  stolen  and  losses  incurred  on  account  of  theft/pilferage. However as per raids conducted by security personnel as well as joint raids with the law  and  order  authorities  of  the  State  Government  concerned,  the  quantity  of  coal recovered and its approximate value [Subsidiary-wise and State-wise] during 2018-19 are as under :-

(Provisional)

| Co.              | State            |   Qty. Recovered (te) |   Approx. Value (Rs. Lakh) |
|------------------|------------------|-----------------------|----------------------------|
| ECL              | WB               |              11063.4  |                    562.817 |
|                  | Jharkhand        |               4885.23 |                    248.817 |
|                  | Total ECL        |              15948.6  |                    811.634 |
| BCCL             | Jharkhand        |               5030.29 |                    214.84  |
|                  | WB               |                682.05 |                     24.992 |
|                  | Total BCCL       |               5712.34 |                    239.833 |
| CCL              | Jharkhand        |                595.51 |                     12.753 |
| NCL              | MP/UP            |                  0    |                      0     |
| WCL              | Maharashtra      |                261.05 |                      7.595 |
|                  | MP               |                  0    |                      0     |
|                  | Total WCL        |                261.05 |                      7.595 |
| SECL             | MP               |                  0.5  |                      0.015 |
|                  | Chattisgarh      |                  9.3  |                      0.38  |
|                  | Total SECL       |                  9.8  |                      0.395 |
| MCL              | Orissa           |                257.22 |                      4.572 |
| NEC              | Assam            |                  0    |                      0     |
| Total Coal India | Total Coal India |              22784.5  |                   1076.78  |

(e)   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  /  pilferage  of coal. The  coal companies  are working  in close coordination with the State /local administration  to  prevent  theft  /pilferage  of  coal.  Various  measures  taken  by  the  coal companies to check such theft/pilferage of coal which are mainly:-

- i. RFID based Boom Barriers and CCTV camera at weighbridges, GPRS based vehicle tracking system with  geo fencing, 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 Officials of the State Administration.
- 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.
- 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.

(f)  &  (g):  Ministry  of  Coal  has  launched  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.  So  far  up  to  31st  October,  2019  a  total  of  205 Complaints  have  been  registered.  Action  on  the  complaints,  which  were  found  true  after verification  by  nodal  officer,  is  taken  in  coordination  with  concerned  law  enforcement agencies

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