Lok Sabha Question No. 2620 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: Theft of Coal
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Subhas Sarkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO : 2620

ANSWERED ON: 10.03.2021

## Theft of Coal

2620.  DR. SUBHAS SARKAR:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:-

- a.  whether Government is aware of illegal procurement and theft of coal from coal mines in the States, especially in West Bengal;
- b.  if  so,  the details of cases that have come to the notice and the action taken by the Government in this regard; and
- c. whether  there  is  any  estimate  of  amount  of  coal  and  the  quantum  of  financial value  of  coal  that  has  been  pilferage  from  mines  in  the  States  including  West Bengal in last the three years and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  and (c)  :  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  Statewise] 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    |   0     |     0    |    0     |     0    |    0     |
|        | Total NCL        |     0    |   0     |     0    |    0     |     0    |    0     |
| WCL    | Maharashtra      |   261.96 |   7.634 |   261.05 |    7.595 |   277.03 |    9.624 |
|        | MP               |     0    |   0     |     0    |    0     |     0    |    0     |
|        | 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  |
|        | Chattisgarh      |    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 | 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. First Information Reports (FIRs) are lodged whenever any incident of theft/  pilferage  of  coal  comes  to  the  notice.  The  details  of  FIRs  lodged  in  cases  of theft/pilferage of coal during 2019 - 20, company - wise and State - wise is as under:

| Name of the CompanyState   | Name of the CompanyState   |   (Provisional) 2019-20 FIR LODGED |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|------------------------------------|
| ECL                        | WB                         |                                228 |
|                            | Jharkhand                  |                                 82 |
|                            | Sub Total                  |                                310 |
| BCCL                       | Jharkhand                  |                                 12 |
|                            | WB                         |                                  0 |
|                            | Sub Total                  |                                 12 |
| CCL                        | Jharkhand                  |                                 13 |
| NCL                        | MP                         |                                  0 |
|                            | UP                         |                                  0 |
|                            | Sub Total                  |                                  0 |
| WCL                        | Maharashtra                |                                 18 |
|                            | MP                         |                                  0 |
|                            | Sub Total                  |                                 18 |
| SECL                       | MP                         |                                  1 |
|                            | Chattisgarh                |                                  2 |
|                            | Sub Total                  |                                  3 |
| MCL                        | Orissa                     |                                  2 |
| NEC                        | Assam                      |                                 27 |
| Coal India Limited         | Coal India Limited         |                                385 |

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 geofencing 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, the 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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