The monthly meeting of the District Mining Task Force was convened at the Collectorate Auditorium, Jamshedpur, under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Ananya Mittal. The meeting focused on reviewing illegal mining activities and reinforcing measures to curb them. The Deputy Commissioner instructed officials to tighten their information networks, conduct extensive checks, and undertake integrated actions involving departments such as mining, forest, transportation, pollution control, factories, and police. He emphasized that tackling illegal mining requires cohesive efforts from all relevant departments rather than isolated actions.
The Deputy Commissioner directed Sub-Divisional Officers of Dhalbhum and Ghatshila to assess actions taken by Circle Officers to prevent illegal mining, transportation, and storage. The District Transport Officer and Motor Vehicle Inspectors were instructed to submit monthly reports in the prescribed format detailing their enforcement activities. Special attention was given to issues surrounding the Banakata Sand Ghats in Bahragora, with directives issued to pollution control officials regarding pending CTO applications.
The review of enforcement actions against illegal mining, transportation, and storage carried out in the previous month revealed the need for stricter measures. The Deputy Commissioner directed that immediate FIRs be lodged in all cases of illegal mining and transportation. He also mandated the prompt auctioning of seized sand following due procedures. Police station in-charges were instructed to form teams and ensure swift action upon receiving reports of illegal activities from Circle Officers, District Mining Officers, or Mining Inspectors. Additionally, the Pollution Control Board was asked to identify and act against illegally operated brick kilns in the district.
The District Magistrate highlighted the need to improve the monitoring mechanism and information network to effectively counter illegal activities. Officials were urged to understand the modus operandi of illegal operators and take lawful action. In a strict move, the Factory Inspector was show-caused for being absent from the meeting without prior notice.
The meeting was attended by Divisional Forest Officer Saba Alam Ansari, ADM (Law and Order) Aniket Sachan, SDM Shatabdi Majumdar, ADC Bhagirath Prasad, District Mining Officer Satish Nayak, and Motor Vehicle Inspector Suraj Hembram, among others. Rural SP Rishabh Garg, City SP Kumar Shivashish, Circle Officers, DSPs, and station in-charges participated online.
The District Mining Task Force pledged to enforce strict measures and expedite action to curb illegal mining and related activities in East Singhbhum.
