Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, along with Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy, chaired a high-level review meeting on Sunday to assess the growing problem of illegal coal mining and coal theft across the country. The meeting was attended by the Union Home Secretary, Union Coal Secretary, senior officials from the Ministry of Coal, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Coal India Limited (CIL) and Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).

During the meeting, special attention was given to the worsening situation in Dhanbad and surrounding coal-producing areas, where illegal mining and coal theft have become major concerns. The ministers reviewed the steps taken so far and discussed additional measures to strengthen enforcement against illegal mining activities.

Government Reviews Action Taken Since 2025

Officials from the Ministry of Coal informed the meeting that several important measures have already been implemented following a review conducted in October 2025. One of the key decisions was to empower officials from CISF and Coal India Limited under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act).

Under these powers, authorised officials can conduct searches at suspected illegal mining sites, seize illegally extracted coal, confiscate machinery and vehicles used in illegal activities, and initiate legal proceedings against offenders. Officials also informed the ministers that a Coal Sector Coordination Committee was established following a decision taken during a meeting chaired by the Union Home Secretary in December 2025 to improve coordination among different agencies.

Amit Shah Announces 'Zero Coal Leakage Plan'

While appreciating the efforts taken by the Coal Ministry and CISF, Amit Shah said stronger and more coordinated action is needed to completely eliminate illegal mining and coal theft. He directed officials to immediately implement a "Zero Coal Leakage Plan", aimed at preventing illegal extraction, transportation and sale of coal across the country.

The Home Minister instructed officials to ensure that the powers available under the MMDR Act are used effectively and in accordance with approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). He said better coordination between enforcement agencies would help curb illegal activities more efficiently.

Mandatory E-Way Bill Verification for Coal Transport

To prevent illegally mined coal from entering the legal supply chain, Amit Shah directed the Coal Ministry to regularly monitor enforcement activities. He also stressed that consumers should use only legally mined coal.

The Home Minister instructed officials to involve GST authorities in monitoring coal transportation and directed that mandatory e-way bill verification be implemented for all coal transported across the country. The move is expected to improve tracking of coal shipments and reduce illegal transportation.

CISF Deployment and Security to Be Strengthened

Amit Shah also directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to prioritise the deployment of CISF personnel in sensitive coal mining areas. He said additional security personnel should be deployed whenever required to prevent illegal mining operations.

The CISF has also been instructed to establish Quick Response Teams (QRTs) and implement a multi-layered security system in vulnerable mining regions. These teams will be responsible for taking immediate action whenever information about illegal mining activities is received.

Greater Use of Technology to Monitor Illegal Mining

The Home Minister emphasised the importance of technology in strengthening surveillance and enforcement. He directed officials to make better use of high-resolution cameras installed at the Integrated Command and Control Centre to identify illegal mining locations and monitor suspicious activities.

According to Amit Shah, technology-driven monitoring will help authorities detect illegal operations more quickly and enable faster action against those involved.

He reiterated that the Central Government remains committed to protecting the country's natural resources, maintaining law and order and ensuring that legitimate coal mining operations are not affected by illegal activities.