Illegal coal mining: CO reprimands illegal mining site, right to take action against depots consuming stolen coal

A new system has been implemented in Dhanbad district to check illegal coal mining, transportation and storage. The DC has also authorized all the circle officers of the district to exercise their powers to crack down on illegal trade in major minerals. DC has issued a district order in this regard. Under the order, now all the COs of the district can conduct raids on the lines of police and CISF on the information of illegal mining of coal.

If information is received that illegal coal is being transported somewhere, then the CO can seize the vehicle and take action against the concerned. There shall also be a competent authority to take action on illegal coal stock at the depot or any other place. The DC or SDO or ADM level officers authorized by him at the administrative level were empowered to act on mining, transportation and storage of major minerals, but in the latest system, the DCs have split their authority among circle officers.

Dhanbad is a big district, so CO was also engaged to stop illegal coal trade: DC

Why was there a need to empower CO to crack down on illegal trade in coal?

There is a provision in the Jharkhand Mineral Rules 2017 wherein competent officers can be designated to prevent illegal mining. Dhanbad is a big district. More manpower is needed to stop illegal mining, transportation. Therefore the CO has been empowered to take action against illegal trading of coal.

Does this mean that the police is not taking concrete action on illegal coal?

In the meeting of the task force, a strategy has been chalked out to crack down on illegal coal. The CO will also check illegal mining, transportation and storage. Coordinate with the police. Will file a case. Stopping organized crime is a priority.

Is there a lack of coordination with the police?

All COs and SHOs are also members in the task force. I myself and the SSP also attend the task force meeting. It is our endeavor to create better coordination to check illegal trade in coal.

It is good, if the district administration also takes action on illegal coal, transparency will come: SSP

What happened where the police raided first, after 24 hours the CO also reached there and carried out the raid?

This happened in Balliapur. Police had seized illegal coal from the forest on a tip-off. Incidentally, the administrative team also raided the same place and more coal was also recovered from the police. But it would be useless to see it in any other sense.

Then why did the DC take out the order and put the CO on monitoring the coal?

It is good that transparency will come. We will be able to work in better coordination. Talking to the DC himself, he said that it would be better to involve other departments for illegal mining, transportation etc.

Is any organized syndicate of illegal coal raising its head again in Dhanbad?

-It's a rumour. I have been in Dhanbad for one and a half months. During this, many tears came to my ears too. If there is coal in Dhanbad, then there is more talk of coal. You must be seeing that the police action on illegal coal is also increasing.

Vehicles will also be able to catch illegal coal transport

Till now the CO had the right to act on illegal sandstone

Under Rule 54 of Jharkhand Minor Mineral Contribution Rules, Circle Officers have been declared as competent officers to take action against illegal mining, transportation and storage of minor minerals like sand, stones in their areas. The DC has authorized the CO to exercise the powers conferred under the Jharkhand Mineral Rules 2017.

Golmara, police got 20 tonnes and CO got 100 tonnes of illegal coal

Golmara forest of Balliapur. On August 20, Sindri's DSP and Balliapur Thanedar raided here and seized 20 tonnes of illegal coal. The very next day on August 21, the Balliapur CO again raided the same Golmara forest. CO found 100 tonnes of illegal coal there. The action and seizure of two teams at the same place in 24 hours raised many questions.

In Hindi Article:- https://akbnews01.blogspot.com/2021/08/blog-post_809.html