Mumbai, July 20 -- The Central Industrial Security Force has recovered 428.34 metric tonnes (t) of illegally mined, stored and transported coal during coordinated operations in Jharkhand and West Bengal under the Government of India's Zero Coal Leakage initiative. The action followed empowerment of designated CISF officers under Sections 22, 23B and 24 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, enabling the force to act against illegal mining, theft, unauthorised storage and transportation.
Intelligence-led operations were carried out between July four and July eight across the coalfields of Bharat Coking Coal Limited, Eastern Coalfields Limited and Central Coalfields Limited in coordination with Coal India subsidiaries, district administrations and local police. The drive resulted in the recovery of 428.34 t, the registration of four FIRs and the seizure of a Hyva truck, more than 13 motorcycles and other equipment allegedly used in illegal mining and transportation. Several individuals were apprehended and legal action initiated under the MMDR Act.
Multiple raids at vulnerable locations in BCCL's Dhanbad coalfields, including Katras, Sijua, Kustore, Jealgora and Govindpur, recovered 319.54 t of illegally stored coal and led to seizure of a coal-laden truck and several motorcycles based on intelligence and drone surveillance. In ECL operational areas including Rajmahal, Salanpur, Chitra and Sonepur-Bazari, inspections of coal depots, weighbridges and transportation records yielded 85.93 t of illegally mined coal and confirmed compliance at several authorised operational sites.
At Piparwar under CCL's command area CISF personnel intercepted a Hyva truck carrying concealed illegal coal and recovered 13.62 t of the mineral, while at CCL Kargali a further 9.25 t and seven motorcycles allegedly used in illegal mining were seized. The operations relied on human intelligence, drone surveillance, transit-route monitoring, surprise inspections, verification of transport documents and GPS-enabled documentation, and the CISF said it will continue to work with the Ministry of Coal, Coal India Limited, its subsidiaries, state governments and police authorities to eliminate illegal mining and ensure strict enforcement under the MMDR Act.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.