A four member team setup on instruction of National Green Tribunal (NGT) to inquire on going illegal coal mining in Dhanbad was shocked to note ongoing illegal coal mining on rayati land along with lease hold land of BCCL simultaneously and involvement of villagers on instruction of select white collares people.
The four member team comprising a member from Forest, Environment and Climate change department, members from central and state pollution boards and deputy commissioner, Dhanbad visited around forty(40) different spots at Central Suranga, Pahadi goda and Laxmi mines and saw how the trenches were cut and rat holes were prepared for illegal mining of coal.
The team was in Dhanbad following complaints of select villagers..
Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Singh said that coal beating land of riyats is under a land acquisition process but due to delay in processing now illegal miners have started extracting coal from rayati land. The concerned authorities have been directed to identify them and file cases against them. Dhanbad district mining officer too has been directed to initiate a case against illegal miners.
One of the team members said a detailed report would soon be prepared and would be sent to NGT.