Bhubaneswar: Amid reports of coal smuggling in Hemgiri area of Sundargarh, district Collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan has directed officials to take immediate and decisive action against such illegal activities.
In a letter to the Sub-Collector of Sundargarh, Deputy Director of Mines (DDM), Rourkela, and Tehsildar of Hemgir, the Collector stated that major illegal coal mining operations have been identified in the area.
The activity is suspected to have been running for a long time and coal extracted illegally is also being diverted through unauthorised routes, he said.
To curb the illegal activity, the Collector has instructed the officials concerned to thoroughly inspect nearby coal washeries and depots.
The officials have been asked to verify stock details and check all related documents. Any discrepancies found during the inspection must be dealt with strictly, he said.
The entire exercise should be completed within three days, and a compliance report is to be submitted to the Collector.
