Lok Sabha Question No. 981 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Illegal Mining
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Ramesh Chand Bind, Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama, Debasree Chaudhuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 981 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.7.2023

## Illegal Mining

981. SHRI  RAMESH CHAND BIND: SHRI  RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA: MS. DEBASREE CHAUDHURI:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has estimated the total loss occurring every year due to illegal mining in several subsidiary companies of Coal India Ltd.;
- (b) the details of estimate loss due to illegal mining during the last three years, State-wise along with the steps taken/being taken by the Government to curb it;
- (c ) the details of people/companies/contractors booked for indulging in these activities along with the comparative status of illegal coal mining in the State of Gujrat;
- (d) whether the Government has taken any initiative to control illegal mining in subsidiary companies of Coal India Ltd. ; and
- (e ) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): During  the  course  of  coal  production  by  Coal  India  Limited,  all  statutory provisions  under  various  Acts,  Rules  and  Regulations  are  observed  for  conducting  various activities. As such, there is no illegal mining in the lease-hold areas of Coal India Limited. However, illegal mining of coal is reported to be carried out mainly from abandoned mines, shallow coal seams situated at remote/isolated places. It is a Law & Order problem 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 of coal.

It  is  not  possible  to  specify  the  exact  losses  incurred  on  account  of  illegal  mining  of  coal. However, as per raids conducted by security personnel as well as joint raids with the law and order authorities of the concerned State Government, the approximate value of recovered coal during the last three years, company-wise and State-wise are as under:-

## (Provisional)

|         |           | Approx. Value (Rs. Lakh)   | Approx. Value (Rs. Lakh)   | Approx. Value (Rs. Lakh)   |
|---------|-----------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
| Company | State     | 2022-23                    | 2021-22                    | 2020-21                    |
| ECL     | WB        | 7.020                      | 0.780                      | 39.420                     |
|         | Jharkhand | 80.660                     | 7.400                      | 0.050                      |
|         | Total ECL | 87.680                     | 8.180                      | 39.470                     |

| Company   |           | Approx. Value (Rs. Lakh)   | Approx. Value (Rs. Lakh)   | Approx. Value (Rs. Lakh)   |
|-----------|-----------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
|           | State     | 2022-23                    | 2021-22                    | 2020-21                    |
| CCL       | Jharkhand | 0.232                      | 0.904                      | 0.050                      |

Following steps taken to check Illegal mining of coal:

Concrete  walls  have  been  constructed  on  the  mouth  of  the  openings  of  the  underground 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, sub-divisional level, district level, state level) in some subsidiaries of CIL to monitor different aspects of illegal mining.

The Government of India has launched one mobile app namely 'Khanan Prahari' and a web app Coal Mine Surveillance and Management System (CMSMS) for reporting unauthorized coal mining activities to aid monitoring and taking suitable action oby Law & Order authorities concerned.

(c): As per raids conducted by security personnel as well as joint raids with the law and order  authorities  of  the  concerned  State  Government,  the  quantity  of  coal  recovered  and numbers of arrests made in cases of illegal mining of coal during the last three years, companywise and State-wise is given below:-

(Provisional)

|     | State     | 2022-23             | 2022-23                  | 2021-22              | 2021-22                  | 2020-21             | 2020-21                   |
|-----|-----------|---------------------|--------------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|---------------------------|
| Co. | State     | Qty. Recovered (te) | Arrest Made (in numbers) | Qty. Recovere d (te) | Arrest Made (in numbers) | Qty. Recovered (te) | Arrest Made (in numbe rs) |
| ECL | WB        | 117.09              | 14                       | 13.19                | 0                        | 788.64              | 3                         |
|     | Jharkhand | 1344.70             | 1                        | 123.42               | 3                        | 1.00                | 0                         |
|     | Total ECL | 1461.79             | 15                       | 136.61               | 3                        | 789.64              | 3                         |
| CCL | Jharkhand | 16.16               | 0                        | 29.00                | 0                        | 1.50                | 0                         |

There is no mine of Coal India Limited in the State of Gujarat.

(d) & (e): Steps taken to check Illegal mining of coal has been given in reply of part (a) and (b) above.

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