CISF seizes over 428 tonnes of illegal coal in Jharkhand, Bengal

Intensifying its operations against illegal coal mining, the Central Industrial Security Force has in the past four days recovered over 428 metric tonne of coal being transported illegally in Jharkhand and West Bengal, a CISF official said on Thursday (July 9, 2026).

In line with the government’s “zero coal leakage” initiative, the CISF has stepped up enforcement against illegal coal mining, theft, unauthorised storage and transportation under the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), the official added.

Coordinated work

Following the empowerment of designated CISF officers under Sections 22, 23B and 24 of the MMDR Act, CISF has launched intelligence-driven operations in coordination with Coal India subsidiaries, local police and district administration to safeguard national mineral resources and strengthen transparency in the coal sector.

“Between July 4 and 8, 2026, CISF conducted coordinated operations across the coalfields of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) and Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) in Jharkhand and West Bengal. The operations resulted in the recovery of 428.34 metric tonne of illegally mined, stored or transported coal, registration of four First Information Reports (FIR), seizure of one Hyva truck and more than 13 motorcycles and other equipment used in illegal mining and transportation, besides apprehension of offenders and initiation of legal proceedings under the MMDR Act,” the official added.

The enforcement drive covered several vulnerable mining belts and coal transportation corridors. The operations employed a combination of human intelligence, drone surveillance, transit-route monitoring, surprise inspections, verification of transportation documents, inspection of coal depots and weighbridges and GPS-enabled documentation.

On July 5, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy reviewed the situation of illegal coal mining and coal theft in a high-level meeting.

During the meeting, the Home Minister expressed concern over the worsening situation of illegal coal mining and theft in Dhanbad and nearby areas in Jharkhand. Officials from the Coal Ministry informed the Home Minister that several concrete steps had been taken since the review held in the first week of October 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said.

The Home Minister issued several important directions to the officials including 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 noted that although powers had been entrusted to CISF and Coal India Limited officials under the MMDR Act, these powers must be exercised rigorously and in a coordinated manner.

The Minister also instructed the Coal Ministry to review the action taken on a regular basis. To ensure that consumers use only legally mined coal and to deter the transportation of illegal coal, it was considered necessary to involve GST authorities. A mechanism should, therefore, be put in place to verify e-way bills for all coal being transported.

He directed MHA officials to include coal sector in the priority list for CISF deployment, so that personnel can be deployed immediately in vulnerable areas. He further directed CISF to form quick-response teams and establish a multi-layered security arrangement in vulnerable areas, enabling prompt action against illegal miners to take immediate action whenever information is received.