Lok Sabha Question No. 3613 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Coal Pilferage
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Rama Devi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO : 3613

ANSWERED ON: 17.03.2021

## Coal Pilferage

3613. SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:-

- a.  the details of quantum of coal pilferage every year along with value thereof;
- b.  the manner in which incidents of pilferage of coal are controlled by the Government in the background of untraced cases and the extent to which such pilferage is likely to be curbed ?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) :  Theft/pilferage of coal is 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  the last three years are as under :-

(Provisional)

|     |               | 2017-18             | 2017-18                  | 2018-19             | 2018-19                  | 2019-20             | 2019-20                  |
|-----|---------------|---------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|--------------------------|
| Co. | State         | Qty. Recovered (te) | Approx. Value (Rs. Lakh) | Qty. Recovered (te) | Approx. Value (Rs. Lakh) | Qty. Recovered (te) | Approx. Value (Rs. Lakh) |
| ECL | WB            | 8667.24             | 433.362                  | 11063.39            | 562.817                  | 13675.06            | 683.750                  |
|     | Jharkhand     | 2346.53             | 117.327                  | 4885.23             | 248.817                  | 6877.28             | 343.870                  |
|     | Total ECL     | 11013.77            | 550.689                  | 15948.62            | 811.634                  | 20552.34            | 1027.620                 |
|     | BCCLJharkhand | 5093.34             | 199.113                  | 5030.29             | 214.840                  | 1443.37             | 56.149                   |
|     | WB            | 537.35              | 20.198                   | 682.05              | 24.992                   | 0.00                | 0.000                    |
|     | Total BCCL    | 5630.69             | 219.311                  | 5712.34             | 239.833                  | 1443.37             | 56.149                   |
| CCL | Jharkhand     | 539.97              | 15.791                   | 595.51              | 12.753                   | 914.55              | 24.371                   |
| NCL | MP            | 0.00                | 0.000                    | 0.00                | 0.000                    | 0.00                | 0.000                    |
|     | UP            | 0.00                | 0.000                    | 0.00                | 0.000                    | 0.00                | 0.000                    |
|     | Total NCL     | 0.00                | 0.000                    | 0.00                | 0.000                    | 0.00                | 0.000                    |
| WCL | Maharashtra   | 261.96              | 7.634                    | 261.05              | 7.595                    | 277.03              | 9.624                    |

|                  | MP               |     0.00 |   0.000 |     0.00 |    0.000 |     0.00 |    0.000 |
|------------------|------------------|----------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------|
|                  | Total WCL        |   261.96 |   7.634 |   261.05 |    7.595 |   277.03 |    9.624 |
| SECLMP           |                  |    26    |   0.57  |     0.5  |    0.015 |     0.15 |    0.01  |
|                  | Chhattisgarh     |    38    |   0.77  |     9.3  |    0.38  |    36.47 |    0.621 |
|                  | Total SECL       |    64    |   1.34  |     9.8  |    0.395 |    36.62 |    0.631 |
| MCL              | Orissa           |    92.53 |   0.925 |   257.22 |    4.572 |    72.33 |    0.624 |
| NEC              | Assam            |     0    |   0     |     0    |    0     |     0    |    0     |
| Total Coal India | Total Coal India | 17602.9  | 795.69  | 22784.5  | 1076.78  | 23296.2  | 1119.02  |

(b)  : 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. However, the following steps have been taken to check Theft / pilferage of coal:

-  RFID based Boom Barriers and CCTV cameras at weighbridges, GPRS based vehicle tracking system with geo-fencing and CCTV cameras installed at strategic locations in mines.
-  Regular FIRs are lodged by the Colliery Management and CISF with local police. A close watch on the activities of criminals is being kept by CISF.
-  Interaction  and  liaison  with  District  officials  at  regular  intervals  and  meetings  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 mines 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.

Besides, Ministry of Coal has launched Mobile App - Khanan Prahari 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.  Till  February,  2021, 443  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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