Government-owned undertaking and country’s largest coal producer Bharat Coking Coal limited (BCCl) has come under intense criticism from Union Minister for Coal (Independent charge) Piyush Goyal over its half-hearted approach to pollution and mines safety. The Minister, who had visited coal capital Dhanbad a few days ago, even sent out stern warning to the coal major to come clean on these issues or face the music.
Highly placed sources present in the meeting of Goyal and BCCl’s officials, including its Chairman-cum-Managing Director confided to The Pioneer about the warnings given and instructions passed.
“The Minister was furious over state of affairs in the city falling under the municipal area which is suffocating under intense coal dust pollution. There are mines being operated within the city whereas the BCCl does not pay property and other taxes nor performs its CSR locally. Piyush Goyal told it specifically to adhere with the norms within 100 days. Failing to that the Ministry can order closure of some of the mines being operated as well,” said a source present in the meeting.
The Minister come down heavily on the coal firm also because of the fact that Dhanbad has featured in the list of the towns of the country on the scale of cleanliness as the worst performers. “He was not happy at all with their performance on air and water pollution and also on mines safety norms. He said that the Minister cannot allow pollution to continue for the inconvenience of lakh of residents. He also on the occasion passed certain directions for the BCCl to adhere with,” he quipped.
The BCCl management in the meeting has been told to employ mist technology to handle coal dust originating from the operational mines within the city area and also from nearby, make available 40-50 acres of land for building sewerage treatment plant to the Dhanbad Municipal Corporation (DMC) and rectify the rules which were reportedly coming in the way of its spending CSR fund inside the town area.
“BCCl nearly covers 70 per cent of the municipal area of Dhanbad. It was baffling that it does not contribute a penny to the DMC for town maintenance. Since other contributors are low in numbers it was becoming impossible for us to keep up the town and meet the cost. Now when the Minister has intervened and directed the BCCl to cooperate with DMC we are hopping for the best,” said Dhanbad Mayor Chandra Shekhar Agarwal.
Following the rap, the BCCl has conducted a meeting with DMC officials and sought for some information required to move forward. “They have demanded few letters and documents from us. We would be again sitting in a week time. It would a great help for us if the BCCl falls in line,” added the Mayor who puts the figure nothing less than Rs 100 crore coming from the coal producer to the corporation’s kitty for cleanliness.None of the BCCl official despite repeated attempts could be reached for comments.