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

The Central Industrial Security Force, which has intensified operations against illegal coal mining, has recovered more than 428 metric tonnes of coal illegally transported in Jharkhand and West Bengal in the last four days, a CISF official said on Thursday (July 9, 2026).

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

Coordinated work

Following empowerment of designated CISF officers under Sections 22, 23B and 24 of the MMDR Act, CISF launched intelligence-led 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 carried out coordinated operations at the coal fields 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 tonnes of illegally mined, stored or transported coal, registering four First Information Reports (FIRs), the official said, a Hyva truck and “He demanded that more than 13 motorcycles and other equipment used in illegal mining and transportation be seized, as well as the arrest of the culprits and legal action taken under the MMDR Act,” he added.

The enforcement drive covered several sensitive mining belts and coal transport corridors. The operations used a combination of human intelligence, drone surveillance, transit route monitoring, surprise inspections, verification of shipping documents, inspection of coal depots and weighbridges, and GPS-assisted 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 of Jharkhand. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said officials from the Ministry of Coal informed the Home Secretary that many concrete steps have been taken since the review in the first week of October 2025.

The Minister of Internal Affairs gave several important instructions to the authorities, including the adoption of a “zero coal leakage plan” to ensure a comprehensive and time-bound response against illegal mining and unauthorized transportation of coal. He stated that though powers under the MMDR Act have been given to CISF and Coal India Limited officials, these powers should be exercised scrupulously and in a coordinated manner.

The Minister also instructed the Ministry of Coal to review the measures taken at regular intervals. It was deemed necessary to involve GST officials in the process to ensure that consumers use only legally mined coal and to discourage the transportation of illegal coal. Therefore, a mechanism should be created to verify e-delivery invoices for all coal transported.

He directed MHA officials to include the coal sector in the priority list for CISF deployment so that personnel can be deployed immediately in sensitive areas. He also directed the CISF to constitute rapid response teams and establish a multi-layered security arrangement in vulnerable areas, enabling immediate action on receipt of information against illegal miners.