The recent seizure of huge coal by police in the region speaks volumes of the thriving coal theft taking place in Talcher coalfield area . Recently, the police managed to intercept a 10 wheeler heavy lorry with coal. Two rucks were seized from Banarpal police stations areas one each was from Talcher and Chhendipada police station limits on 27 January.
Two days prior to it, mini trucks carrying coal were also seized by police in Angul and Banarpal police station limits. Coal seizure by peripheral police station officials is also common in these days worrying the coal and state authorities for the loss of revenue due to it. In Talcher coalfield there are eight mega open cast coal mines where huge coal is lying in the open.
Per day thousands of coal trucks are engaged in coal transportation on road to various destinations legally. But the theft of coal is on at almost all the time due to laxity in proper drive and connivance. There was strong deterrent earlier in place when police in Dhenkanal and Angul were referring the seizure of trucks to the deputy director of mines (DDM) for confiscation and fine.But that practice had been discontinued for some years .Once the truck went to DDM it was very difficult to get it released.
“There is no place either in DDM campus or in police stations to keep such large number of trucks and coal. We have also to forward the arrested drivers to court. All these problems hinder us to hand over all the cases to DDM”said Angul SP Brijesh Ray. He said a drive is on against the coal theft and will continue. “we are getting feedbacks of coal theft and accordingly we take actions “he added.
Meanwhile Dhenkanal police under the direction of SP Dhenkanal Basant Panigrahi has formed a special squad to check the coal smuggling on the routes.A lot of cases have been lodged in this connection. The DDM L D Nayak said efforts on to curb the theft and meeting was called where local police the mining authorities a s well as the coal authorities were present. It was decided to take all out steps in that direction, he said.’