Coal news and updates

Top cops crack whip on coal smuggling in Jharkhand

Ever since the chief minister called for a crack down on illegal coal trade in the state, the police department has been on its toes looking for ways to check the crime. The state's exchequer incurs huge losses every year owing to the unlawful activity and Jharkhand police have decided to pull up department officials if they fail to take timely action on the matter.

In a review meeting, the top police officials discussed ways to tackle the menace. IG, North Chhotanagpur Zone, Laxman Prasad Singh said, "As we shifted focus to parliamentary election for a while, the smugglers took advantage of the opportunity and indulged in rampant mining in the state.''

IG, in a bid to control the crime, has asked the officers in charge of the police stations to take immediate action or face the music. Three OCs have been served show-cause notice in this connection. "After we came to know that district administration authorities have seized several tonnes of coal from Nawadih, Bokaro Thermal and Petarwar, we have issued show-cause notice to the OCs .''

Singh, who headed the review meeting, said that an anti-coal smuggling task force will be formed at the district level to curb the crime. The task force will comprise officials from coal companies, forest, mining, police and administration departments.

"The task force will be given the power to take against those involved in illegal mining. The Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) has been asked to destroy the abandoned mines and fence it with barbed wires to check theft. Police have started identifying coal smugglers and they would be sent behind bars very soon," he added.

On the sidelines of the meeting, a fresh strategy was chalked out to deal with extremism in the area. "Henceforth, we will identify Maoist squads, scan their location and hit them hard, he said.

Source: The Times of India