(a) whether the cases of pilferage of coal has increased in the coal mines of the country;
(b) if so, the number of such cases reported during each of the last three years and the current year company and State-wise;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any investigation in these cases; and
(d) if so, the outcome thereof and the action taken against the guilty officers during the said period. Company-wise, along with the steps taken to check such activities in future?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL, POWER, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND MINES.
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a & b): Theft/pilferage of coal, if any, is carried out stealthily and clandestinely. Complaints received on theft/pilferage of coal are of general in nature and the same are investigated for appropriate action. First Information Reports (FIRs) are lodged whenever any incident of theft/pilferage of coal comes to the notice of the coal companies.
As per information received from Coal India Ltd. (CIL), FIRs lodged in cases of theft/pilferage of coal during the last three years and current year(upto December, 2016), company-wise and State-wise is given below:
Name of the Company State 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 (upto December 2016).
Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL)
West Bengal 05 27 116 207
Jharkhand 03 02 18 19
Bharat Coking Coal Ltd(BCCL) Jharkhand 12 09 09 07
Central Coalfields Ltd(CCL) Jharkhand 05 11 03 00
Western Coalfields Ltd(WCL)
Maharashtra 09 13 06 11
Madhya Pradesh 00 00 00 01
South Eastern Coalfields Ltd(SECL)
Madhya Pradesh 02 02 00 00
Chattisgarh 02 01 06 01
Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd(MCL) Odisha 02 04 00 01
North Eastern Coalfield (NEC) Assam 48 66 35 24
Coal India Limited 88 135 193 271
(c)&(d) Law and Order is a State subject and hence, primarily, it is the responsibility of State/District Administration to take deterrent action to stop/curb theft/pilferage of coal. The coal companies are working in close coordination with the State/local Administration to prevent theft/pilferage of coal. Further, whenever any incident of theft/pilferage of coal comes to the notice of the coal companies, First Information Reports (FIRs) are lodged and action is taken against the guilty. No officer has been found to be involved in the pilferage of coal.
Various measures taken by the coal companies to check such theft/pilferage of coal in include:
i) Check posts which have been established at entry / exit points along with CCTVs where all coal laden vehicles are physically checked.
ii) Security at coal dumps have been improved by wall fencing, proper illumination and round the clock guarding.
iii) Regular patrolling is conducted in and around the mine including OB dumps.
iv) Armed Guards have been deployed at Railway sidings.
v) Joint patrolling with local police is also being carried out in pilferage prone areas.
vi) Surprise checks / raids are conducted by flying squads of CISF/security department.
vii) Security squads have been introduced to check transportation of coal en route to Railway Siding.
viii) Surprise re-weighment of coal laden trucks is done, at weighbridges.
ix) Escorting of coal rakes in coordination with RPF up to weighbridge, is arranged in pilferage prone areas.
x) 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 pilferage.
xi) Regular FIRs are lodged by the Management of the collieries and CISF with local Police Stations against the pilferage/theft of coal. A close watch on the activities of criminals is being maintained by CISF.
xii) Inter-action and liaison with District officials is carried out at regular intervals and meeting are held with DC & District Administration.
xiii) The E-surveillance programme through use of Information Technology is being implemented and initiatives like Global Positioning System(GPS)/ General Packet Radio Service(GPRS)/ Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs), Vehicle Tracking Systems and electronic weigh-bridges have been installed to check the problem of theft/pilferage at mines, sidings and transportation.
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