Govt asks state and district administrations to check coal theft

The government has asked state and district administrations to take measures to pilferage of coal as deficit of the fuel is likely to grow to 142 million tonnes this fiscal.

"Law and order is a state subject, hence the state, district administration are requested to take necessary deterrent action to stop/curb theft, black marketing," coal ministry said in an official statement.

The ministry said coal companies have taken measures like setting up check posts, regular patrolling, deploying armed guards at mines and railway sidings and liaising with district officials at regular intervals.

The statement said challans for coal transportation by trucks outside districts were being issued and management of collieries and CISF was lodging regular FIRs with local police stations against coal theft.

Early this month, Eastern Coalfields said that illegal mining and increased mafia operations have brought production to a standstill at many of its mines, causing a loss of about Rs 30 crore a month.