Team from mines dept launches probe into illegal coal mining in Sundargarh | Bhubaneswar News
Rourkela: A nine-member enforcement team of the mines department began investigating into illegal coal mining operations in Sundargarh district on Friday, inspecting 18 coal pits across various forest areas where unauthorized extraction and smuggling activities were reported.
“An enforcement team reached Sundargarh today. They are investigating into the illigal coal mining and coal theft in different forests in Hemgir block,” said Dasarathi Sarabu, sub collector (sadar), Sundargarh.
The team, comprising two deputy directors of mines, a deputy director of geology, a junior mining officer, and five police officials, conducted inspections in Ratansara, Telendih and Bhograkochar forests in Hemgir block. Local officials, including Hemgir tehsildar Sarikarani Dhamel, junior mining officer Mangal Hembrum, and Gopalpur forest range officer Harihar Patra, accompanied the investigation team.
The probe follows recent media reports of extensive illegal mining in the Gopalpur forest range, where district officials seized 141.76 tonnes of illegally mined coal last week. The seized coal has been transferred to MCL’s Basundhara area pending auction. A police investigation is underway following an FIR filed by a junior mining officer at Hemgir police station.
District collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan had earlier ordered an investigation into the illegal operations, directing officials to inspect nearby coal washeries and depots, including verification of stocks and documentation within three days.
The issue has drawn attention from political leaders across party lines. BJP leader and former Sundargarh Sadar MLA Kusum Tete, along with Talsara MLA and deputy speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi, have written to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi demanding a high-level probe. BJD Sundargarh Sadar MLA Jogesh Singh has called for a CBI investigation into the matter.
Reports indicate that the Gopalpur range officer had previously alerted the then Hemgir tehsildar about illegal mining activities last year, but no action was taken. Questions have been raised about the apparent inaction of the mining office despite awareness of the situation.
The enforcement team is expected to continue its investigation on Saturday, focusing on illegal mining activities in Hemgir Telendih, Ratansara, Jamkani and Bhograkachar forest areas.
“An enforcement team reached Sundargarh today. They are investigating into the illigal coal mining and coal theft in different forests in Hemgir block,” said Dasarathi Sarabu, sub collector (sadar), Sundargarh.
The team, comprising two deputy directors of mines, a deputy director of geology, a junior mining officer, and five police officials, conducted inspections in Ratansara, Telendih and Bhograkochar forests in Hemgir block. Local officials, including Hemgir tehsildar Sarikarani Dhamel, junior mining officer Mangal Hembrum, and Gopalpur forest range officer Harihar Patra, accompanied the investigation team.
The probe follows recent media reports of extensive illegal mining in the Gopalpur forest range, where district officials seized 141.76 tonnes of illegally mined coal last week. The seized coal has been transferred to MCL’s Basundhara area pending auction. A police investigation is underway following an FIR filed by a junior mining officer at Hemgir police station.
District collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan had earlier ordered an investigation into the illegal operations, directing officials to inspect nearby coal washeries and depots, including verification of stocks and documentation within three days.
The issue has drawn attention from political leaders across party lines. BJP leader and former Sundargarh Sadar MLA Kusum Tete, along with Talsara MLA and deputy speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi, have written to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi demanding a high-level probe. BJD Sundargarh Sadar MLA Jogesh Singh has called for a CBI investigation into the matter.
Reports indicate that the Gopalpur range officer had previously alerted the then Hemgir tehsildar about illegal mining activities last year, but no action was taken. Questions have been raised about the apparent inaction of the mining office despite awareness of the situation.
The enforcement team is expected to continue its investigation on Saturday, focusing on illegal mining activities in Hemgir Telendih, Ratansara, Jamkani and Bhograkachar forest areas.
