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Steps being taken to check theft of coal: Govt in LS

Admitting pilferage of coal, government today said a project for introduction of global positioning system (GPS) on trucks carrying coal was underway to prevent theft and diversion.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, replying to a question on behalf of Coal Minister Piyush Goyal in Lok Sabha, said CCTVs were being installed at all vulnerable points like entry and exit gates, weigh bridges and sidings to keep a regular watch.

"Coal is being stolen. There is no doubt that there is pilferage. We are taking steps to check it as coal is the mainstay of our economy," he said during Question Hour.

Prabhu said Radio Frequency Identification-based boom barriers were also being installed at many places to identify illegal trucks carrying coal, while weigh bridges were being connected in Coal Net to capture and monitor the weight of coal-carrying vehicles.

The Minister said as per the new coal distribution policy, state-run Coal India Limited is required to verify the status of erstwhile linked consumers to check the veracity of their claims of being bonafide consumers of coal.

"Some complaints on black marketing/ diversion of coal have been reported from North Eastern Coalfields, Eastern Coalfields, Eastern Coalfields Limited, Western Coalfields Limited, Central Coalfields Limited.

"Complaints are investigated and appropriate action including lodging of FIRs, referring cases to CBI for further investigation, discontinuation of coal supply to the units/ companies involved in such illegal activities, systematic measures for improvement of monitoring/verification of units receiving coal under Fuel Supply Agreement etc. Are taken," he said.

source: http://www.business-standard.com