Coal India to assess extent of illegal coal mining

New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS) Coal India Limited (CIL), the country's largest coal miner, has commissioned Jamshedpur-based Xavier Labour Research Institute and Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, for undertaking a study of illegal coal mining, Pratik Prakashbapu Patil, minister of state in the coal ministry said Wednesday.

In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, the minister informed parliament about the appointment of the consultants to assess the extent of illegal mining.

Both Jharkhand-based institutes have in the past studied illegal coal mining, and have agreed to conduct this study.

Coal production and offtake, particularly by CIL, has been in focus after the recent power blackout, which affected more than half the country.

According to the minister, CIL had floated an expression of interest (EoI) for selection of a consultant to assess the extent of illegal mining in the lease-hold areas of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, Central Coalfields Ltd and Eastern Coalfields Limited in April this year.

No response had been received to the EoI, and the state miner subsequently approached the two agencies to undertake the study on illegal coal mining.