An MCl vigilance team led by Ashok Konar paid a surprising visit to the MGR siding of lingaraj Opencast Project to check the status of coal quality and quantity after irregularities were reported in media.
They took various samples from the railway siding and sent to different NABl laboratories for testing. Moreover, this was done in presence of two impartial surveyors.
The vigilance team managed to measure the coal stock with the help of own survey team of lingaraj OCP. The old method of chain and tape was used for measurement of coal stock. One officer of the survey team told that there was 40,000 tonne stock shortage as the book stock on the day of measurement was 98,000 tonne, where as the actual physical stock measurement came 50,000 tonne. If three dispatched rakes would have been also added, in that case, the actual measurement would be maximum 60,000 tonne.
Hence approximately 38,000 - 40,000 tonne coal shortage was estimated in stock. The higher management of MCl is pondering over as to how did the shortage occurIJ A top official stated that higher management was pressurising the local management for over reporting to achieve the target as given in MoU of company. There are chances of pilferage of coal from siding by coal mafias in collusion with the local management as well.
As per dispatch policy and yellow book of the Coal India limited, the case of coal shortage is dealt with the provision of CDA Rules, in which Manager, Project Officer, General Manager, Colliery Surveyor, Area Survey Officer and Staff Officer (Mining) will be held responsible. In addition to it, a major violation was also observed about stocking of different grades of coal G-12 and G-13 in a single place.