Overview
The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah and Minister for Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy held a high‑level meeting in New Delhi to review the surge in illegal coal mining and theft in Dhanbad and surrounding areas. The meeting included the Union Home Secretary, Union Coal Secretary, senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs, CISF, Coal India Limited and BCCL.
Key Developments
- Adoption of the “Zero Coal Leakage Plan” for a time‑bound response to illegal mining and unauthorised transport of coal.
- Directive to place the coal sector on the priority list for CISF deployment and to form Quick Response Teams.
- Empowerment of CISF and Coal India officials under the MMDR Act to conduct searches, seizures and court cases.
- Integration of technology: use of high‑resolution cameras at Integrated Command and Control Centres and verification of e‑way bills to curb illegal coal movement.
- Formation of a Coal Sector Coordination Committee to monitor implementation.
Important Facts
• The review follows a previous meeting in the first week of October 2025 where initial steps were taken.
• In December 2025, the Union Home Secretary chaired a meeting that led to the creation of the Coal Sector Coordination Committee.
• Officials were authorised to act under the MMDR Act, allowing them to enter premises, seize illegally mined coal, tools, equipment and vehicles.
• The plan calls for regular review of actions by the Ministry of Coal and involvement of GST authorities to ensure only legally mined coal reaches consumers.
Exam Relevance
The issue touches upon several GS papers: GS2 (role of the Home Min