Illegal mining: Home minister Amit Shah orders zero coal leakage plan

New Delhi: Home minister Amit Shah on Sunday directed authorities to implement a 'zero coal leakage plan' and strengthen enforcement against illegal coal mining and unauthorised transportation amid rising concerns over coal theft in Jharkhand's Dhanbad region.

At a high-level review meeting attended by coal minister G Kishan Reddy, home secretary Govind Mohan, coal secretary Vikram Dev Dutt, and senior officials from the coal ministry, CISF, Coal India and Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, Shah expressed concern over the growing incidence of illegal mining and coal theft in Dhanbad and adjoining areas. He directed officials of the home ministry to include the coal sector in the CISF's priority deployment list for vulnerable areas.

He noted that although powers had been entrusted to CISF and Coal India officials under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), they must be exercised rigorously and in a coordinated manner. Shah also asked the Coal Ministry to review the action taken on a regular basis.