Agencies | New Delhi:
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, along with Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy, on Sunday reviewed the situation of illegal coal mining and coal theft during a high-level meeting in New Delhi and directed authorities to adopt a comprehensive “Zero Coal Leakage Plan” to curb the menace.
The meeting was attended by the Union Home Secretary, the Union Coal Secretary, senior officials from the Ministry of Coal, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Coal India Limited (CIL) and Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
Expressing concern over the worsening problem of illegal coal mining and theft in Dhanbad and adjoining areas, Shah was briefed on the measures taken since a similar review held in October 2025.
Officials from the Ministry of Coal informed the meeting that several initiatives had been implemented, including authorising officials of the CISF and Coal India Limited to exercise powers under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The authorisation empowers them to register cases, conduct searches, enter premises suspected of storing illegally mined coal, and seize illegally extracted minerals along with equipment, vehicles and machinery used in unauthorised mining operations.
The meeting was also informed that the Union Home Secretary had chaired a high-level review in December 2025, during which several key decisions were taken, including the constitution of a Coal Sector Coordination Committee, which has since been established.
While appreciating the steps taken by the Ministry of Coal and the CISF, Shah said much more needed to be done to eliminate illegal mining and coal theft.
The Home Minister directed the authorities to implement a “Zero Coal Leakage Plan” to ensure a comprehensive and time-bound response to illegal mining and unauthorised transportation of coal. He stressed that the powers granted to CISF and Coal India Limited officials under the MMDR Act must be exercised rigorously and in close coordination, in accordance with the approved Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
Shah also instructed the Ministry of Coal to regularly review the progress of enforcement measures.
To prevent the sale and transportation of illegally mined coal, the Home Minister called for the involvement of GST authorities and directed officials to establish a mechanism for verifying e-way bills for all coal consignments transported across the country.
He further directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to place the coal sector on the priority list for CISF deployment so that security personnel can be stationed promptly in vulnerable areas.
The CISF has also been asked to constitute Quick Response Teams (QRTs) and establish a multi-layered security mechanism in sensitive mining regions to enable swift action against illegal mining activities whenever intelligence inputs are received.
Emphasising the role of technology in enforcement, Shah directed officials to maximise the use of high-resolution cameras installed at Integrated Command and Control Centres to identify illegal mining sites and track those involved in unlawful operations.
Reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to tackling illegal mining, the Home Minister said the government would continue to take all necessary measures to protect national resources, maintain law and order, and safeguard the interests of legitimate coal mining operations.
