MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL (SHRI PRATIK PRAKASHBAPU PATIL)
(a)&(b) : In this regard, Government of Jharkhand had instituted a study
through the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad and Xavier Labour Research
Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur to examine, inter-alia, the supply-wise inter-
linkages between illegal coal mining and socio-economic conditions/demographic
profiles of the main elements involved in this activity, understand the demand-
side dynamics of illegally mined coal in different sectors, explore and suggest
mitigation strategies rooted in social acceptability economic viability,
environmental sustainability and practical implementability, extant, spread
and severity of the problem etc. Report suggested following main drivers for
forcing or inducing individuals into illegal coal supply chain activities :
1. Landlessness/marginal landholding
2. Dependence on illegal coal supply chain for sustenance
3. Lack of alternative employment opportunities
4. Illiteracy & Low literacy levels
5. Debt burden, coercion by middlemen/coal mafia, easy
availability of coal
6. Better economic returns from illegal coal
7 Market demand for illegal coal
8. Failure of the government and coal companies.
As per the provisional estimate of XLRI loss on account of illegal coal
was Rs. 106 crore to Coal India Limited till 2006 and anticipated loss of Rs.34
crore per year to the State of Jharkhand. However, the study did not assess loss
of lives due to illegal mining and theft of coal.
(c)to(e) : Yes, Sir. Government of West Bengal and Government of Jharkhand have formed
State and District level task force groups, involving the police, officials from Coal
India Ltd. (CIL) and intelligence departments to check the rampant illegal coal
mining. It is expected that the above effort would be able to curb these activities.
