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)

Company	State	Approx. Value (Rs. Lakh)
				2022-2023	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
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.

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, company-wise and State-wise is given below:-

 

(Provisional)

Co.	State	2022-23		2021-22		2020-21
				Qty. Recovered (te)	Arrest Made (in numbers)	Qty. Recovered (te)	Arrest Made (in numbers)	Qty. Recovered (te)	Arrest Made (in numbers)
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.

This information was given by Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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BY/RKP

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