Prod to curb illegal mining

Chief secretary A.K. Singh

Ranchi, July 27: Chief secretary A.K. Singh has directed deputy commissioners (DCs) and superintendents of police (SPs) to launch a major crackdown on illegal mining across the state.

In a letter to DCs and SPs today, he held them responsible for rampant mining of iron ore, coal, et al in this mineral-rich state.

Illegal mining and transportation of iron ore and coal have fuelled corruption in Jharkhand. A major portion of the Rs 2,000 crore money laundering scam involving former chief minister Madhu Koda was traced to recommendation for iron ore leases in West Singhbhum.

Maintaining that the state had always taken serious note of illegal mining, Singh said a special task force at the state and district levels had been constituted in the past.

“Now, DCs and SPs will be held responsible in order to speed up action against illegal mining. The sub-divisional magistrates (SDM) and sub-divisional police officers (SDPO) will be taken to task in case of unrestrained mining in a particular sub-division,” the chief secretary’s letter said.

The DCs and SPs have also been asked to review the situation regularly and take action against people involved in illegal mining under various laws meant to prevent it.

Last year, a cave-in on NH-33 near Kujju in Ramgarh district was attributed to illegal mining. At present, a high-level committee, headed by the home secretary and comprising CMDs of various coal companies, bears the onus of drafting ways to stop illegal mining of coal.