J'khand govt chalks out strategy to stop illegal coal trade

Ranchi, Feb 16 (UNI) Concerned over a state home deparment report on smuggler-ultra-police nexus involved in illegal coal trade, the Jharkhand government has decided to evolve a concrete strategy to stop financial losses due to this trade.

A home department report, submitted before Chief Minister Madhu Koda revealed that the alleged illegal trade was causing huge financial losses to the state.

Department sources told UNI that the government would formulate a strategy, in co-ordination with the police, forest, mining and Intelligence department to stop this illegal trade.

A detailed inqiury would also be conducted before any action was taken, the sources added.

Legal action would be taken against the smugglers and the Vigilance Department would be consulted to identify the police personnel involved in the racket.

The report said, ''The ultras charge about ten per cent of the total amount sent to the illegal market as their levy. The policemen take Rs 7,000 for every deal. The amount taken by the police contain the share of each and every police official involved, including forest and mining department officials.'' About 150 such coal rackets, operating in Bokaro, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh and Ranchi, had been named in the report.

The public sector coal companies like Central Coal Fields and Bharat Cooking Coal Limited have been facing huge losses due to these ''rackets''.

Almost 16 out of the 22 districts are naxal-affected and most of the coal producing areas fall under these districts.

UNI