Measures to check theft and pilferage of coal

The Government has taken a number of steps to prevent theft and pilferage which include:

· Establishment of Check Posts at the vulnerable points.

·Fencing, lighting arrangements and deployment of armed guards round the clock around the coal dumping yard and railway sidings.

·Regular patrolling is conducted in and around the mine including OB dumps and at Railway sidings.

·Interaction and liaison with State/ District officials at regular intervals and holding meeting with Administration at frequent intervals.

·Issue of Challans for coal transportation by trucks outside the district after fixing hologram and putting signatures of authorized officials of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to check pilferage.

·Lodging of FIRs by the Management of the collieries and CISF with local Police Station against the pilferage/theft of coal.

·Filling/dozing/sealing/blasting of the old/abandoned exposed coalfaces in phased manner.

·GPS based truck transportation of coal.

Theft and pilferage of coal is carried out stealthily and clandestinely. As such, it is not possible to quantify the losses incurred on account of theft and pilferage of coal. However, regular FIRs are lodged by the Management of the Collieries and CISF with local Thana whenever any such instance of theft and pilferage of coal comes to the notice. This information was given by the Minister of State for Coal, ShriPratik Prakash Bapu Patil in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.