Home Minister Amit Shah and Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy today reviewed the situation of illegal coal mining and coal theft in a high-level meeting in New Delhi. During the meeting, the Home Minister expressed concern over the worsening situation of illegal coal mining and theft in Dhanbad and nearby areas. The Home Ministry said that Officials from the Coal Ministry informed Mr Shah that several concrete steps had been taken since the review was held in the first week of October last year. They also informed that officials of CISF and Coal India Limited had been authorised to take action under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Mr Shah appreciated the steps taken so far by the Ministry of Coal and CISF. He emphasised that much more needs to be done to curb the menace of illegal mining. The Home Minister issued several important directions, including the adoption of the Zero Coal Leakage Plan to ensure a comprehensive and time-bound response to illegal mining and the unauthorised transportation of coal. He directed officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs to include the coal sector in the priority list for CISF deployment, so that personnel can be deployed immediately in vulnerable areas. Mr Shah directed that high-resolution cameras installed at Integrated Command and Control Centres should be used to identify areas and persons involved in illegal mining activities. He also instructed the Ministry of Coal to review the action taken on a regular basis. The Home Minister said, the Government remains committed to taking all necessary measures to protect public resources, maintain law and order, and safeguard the interests of legitimate coal mining operations.
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