Mr Pratik Prakashbapu Patil minister of state in the ministry of coal informed the Lok Sabha that FIRs have been registered against theft/pilferage of coal in ECL and BCCL during the last three years and the current year.

FIRs registered against persons involved in theft/pilferage of coal in Eastern Coalfields Ltd and Bharat Coking Coal Ltd during the last three years and the current year are given below:

(Provisional)

Activities involving theft and pilferage of coal is a law & order issue which is the responsibility of the State Government. The ministry of coal has no information relating to theft/pilferage by mafia.

However, the following steps are being taken to check the theft/pilferage of coal
1. Check Posts have been established at the vulnerable points.
2. Wall fencing, lighting arrangements and deployment of armed guards round-the-clock has been done around the coal dumping yards.
3. Regular patrolling is conducted in and around the mine including OB dumps.
4. Armed Guards have been deployed at Railway sidings.
5. Interaction and liason with District Officials at regular intervals and holding meetings with District Collector & District Administration every month.
6. 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 theft.
7. Regular FIRs are lodged by the Management of the collieries and CISF with local police stations against the theft of coal. A close watch on the activities of criminals is being maintained by CISF.
8. Management has been taking action for filling / dozing / scaling / blasting of the old / abandoned exposed coalfaces in passed manner.