Executive Summary:
This document is the response from the Minister of Coal and Mines to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding illegal coal mining. It addresses incidents, liability, rehabilitation, effective enforcement of existing policies, technology deployment, and agency coordination. The response highlights the role of state governments in addressing illegal mining and details measures taken by Coal India Limited (CIL) subsidiaries.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Liability and Legal Framework:**
* Illegal mining is primarily a law and order issue under the purview of State Governments.
* The Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) and the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960 (MCRs), along with environmental and penal laws, govern liability for illegal mining accidents and environmental damage.
* The MMDR Act empowers State Governments to create rules preventing illegal mining, transportation, and storage.
* **Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RR) Policies:**
* CIL subsidiaries acquire land under the Coal Bearing Areas Act, 1957.
* Compensation for land and assets is provided as per the First Schedule of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR Act 2013).
* RR benefits are provided as per the Second Schedule of the RFCTLARR Act 2013, and amenities at new rehabilitation sites are as per the Third Schedule.
* CIL's RR Policy of 2012 also provides RR benefits, with an option for affected persons to avail better compensation under Section 108 of RFCTLARR Act 2013.
* **Enforcement of Existing Policies:**
* Coal companies regularly follow up with state authorities to expedite land acquisition, possession, and payment processes.
* **Technology Deployment:**
* Digital surveillance tools, coordination with law enforcement, and security personnel deployment are used to prevent illegal coal mining within CIL command areas.
* The Coal Mines Surveillance Management System (CMSMS) "Khanan Prahari" Mobile app allows the public to report illegal mining.
* Complaints are verified jointly by state authorities and nodal officers.
* **Preventive Actions:**
* Security forces (departmental personnel, CISF, state industrial security units, and private agencies) are deployed at strategic locations.
* Illegal mining sites are dozed and filled, with action taken jointly with local police and CISF.
* Regular patrolling and surprise raids are conducted by security teams, often with police.
* Surveillance systems, including CCTV cameras, GPS tracking on vehicles, and RFID boom barriers, are installed.
* Drone-based surveillance is being introduced.
* Coordination occurs with district task forces for reviews and joint actions.
* Community engagement includes awareness campaigns to discourage trespassing.
* Illegally mined coal is seized, and apprehended individuals are handed over to police.
* **Central and State Agency Coordination:**
* Complaints lodged through CMSMS are verified jointly by State authorities and designated nodal officers.
Impact Analysis:
Stakeholder: State Governments
Impact: Responsible for addressing illegal mining as it is primarily a law and order issue. They are empowered to create rules preventing illegal mining, transportation and storage. Also involved in verifying complaints lodged through CMSMS.
Action Required: Enforce MMDR Act and MCRs, frame rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation, and storage and collaborate with central agencies.
Stakeholder: Coal India Limited (CIL) Subsidiaries
Impact: Responsible for land acquisition and providing rehabilitation and resettlement benefits to affected persons.
Action Required: Follow up with state authorities to expedite land acquisition and possession related processes. Implement RR policies as per RFCTLARR Act 2013 and CIL's RR Policy of 2012. Deploy digital surveillance tools and coordinate with law enforcement.
Stakeholder: Affected Persons/Communities
Impact: Entitled to compensation and RR benefits as per RFCTLARR Act 2013 and CIL's RR Policy.
Awareness campaigns are conducted to discourage unauthorized trespassing.
Action Required: Avail RR benefits including employment as provided under the provisions of land acquisition Acts and policies.
Stakeholder: General Public
Impact: Can report illegal mining activities through the Khanan Prahari Mobile app.
Action Required: Lodge complaints regarding illegal mining through the Khanan Prahari Mobile app.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH CHOUDHARY: Member of LOK SABHA who raised the unstarred question about coal accidents due to illegal mining.
SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY: The Minister of Coal and Mines who provided the answer to the unstarred question.
Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957: The primary legislation governing the liability framework for illegal mining operators in cases of accidents and environmental damage.
Mineral Concession Rules, 1960: Rules under the MMDR Act, 1957, that contribute to the liability framework for illegal mining.
Coal Bearing Areas Act, 1957: Act under which CIL subsidiaries acquire land for coal mining and related activities.
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013: Act that provides for compensation and rehabilitation and resettlement (RR) benefits for those affected by land acquisition for coal mining.
Coal India Limited: The state owned coal mining corporate, the subsidiaries of which acquire land for coal mining activities
Coal Mine Surveillance Management System: A system including the Khanan Prahari Mobile app, used for public reporting and realtime monitoring of illegal coal mining.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COAL
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1801
ANSWERED ON- 30/07/2025
COAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO ILLEGAL MINING
1801. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH CHOUDHARY:
Will the Minster of COAL be pleased to state:
(a) the details of incidents of landslides, subsidence or explosions have occurred due to illegal coal
mining during the last five years, along with the details of loss of life;
(b) the details of liability framework exists for holding illegal operators accountable for accidents
and environmental damage caused by unsafe mining practices;
(c) the reasons for failure of Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) policies to reach affected
populations, especially in mining-affected tribal and rural areas;
(d) the manner in which the existing policies like the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency
in Land Acquisition Act, 2013, be enforced more effectively in mining zones;
(e) the manner in which the technology like satellite surveillance, drones, AI-based monitoring be
more effectively deployed to detect and prevent illegal mining activities; and
(f) the details of Central and State agencies that are responsible for monitoring and curbing illegal
coal mining and the manner in which the coordination between them be improved?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a): Illegal mining is primarily a law and order issue, which is in the domain of the State
Governments concerned.
(b): The liability framework for holding illegal mining operators accountable for accidents and
environmental damage is primarily governed by the Mines and Minerals (Development and
Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) and the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960 (MCRs), along with
other applicable environmental and penal laws. MMDR Act empowers the State Governments to
frame rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation, and storage.
(c) The subsidiaries of CIL acquire land for coal mining and related activities mostly under Coal
Bearing Areas Act, 1957. In such cases, land and asset compensation are provided as per the
provisions of First Schedule of RFCTLARR Act 2013 while R&R benefits are accorded as per the
provisions of Second Schedule of RFCTLARR Act 2013 and the amenities provided in the newrehabilitation site are as per the Third Schedule of RFCTLARR Act 2013. R&R Policy of CIL,
2012 also provides for R&R benefits to the eligible PAFs. Option is also given to PAFs to avail
better compensation and R&R benefit under the provisions of Section 108 of RFCTLARR Act
2013. The affected persons are given the R&R benefits including employment as provided under
the provisions of land acquisition Acts and policies.
(d) The regular follow-up with the state authority for expediting the land acquisition and
possession related process and payment of demand so raised is made by the Coal companies.
(e) & (f): To prevent and curb illegal coal mining and theft, a comprehensive set of measures is
being implemented within the command areas of CIL subsidiaries. These include the use of digital
surveillance tools, active coordination with law enforcement, and deployment of dedicated security
personnel.
One of the methods for monitoring and detecting illegal coal mining is CMSMS (Coal Mines
Surveillance & Management System) & Khanan Prahari Mobile app where general public may
lodge their complaint with respect to illegal mining and action is being taken by nodal officers of
respective area. The “Khanan Prahari” App and Coal Mine Surveillance & Management System
(CMSMS) are being utilized to enable public reporting and real-time monitoring. Complaints
lodged through CMSMS are verified jointly by State authorities and designated nodal officers.
Major preventive actions being taken include:
• Deployment of security forces comprising departmental personnel, CISF, state industrial
security units, and private agencies at strategic locations and check-posts.
• Dozing and filling of illegal mining sites, with on-ground action undertaken jointly with
local police and CISF.
• Regular patrolling and surprise raids by security teams, often accompanied by police,
to detect and eliminate illegal mining activities.
• Installation of surveillance systems, including thousands of CCTV cameras, GPS
tracking devices on coal transport vehicles and mining machinery, and RFID-based boom
barriers at entry/exit points.
• Drone-based surveillance has been introduced or piloted to enhance oversight in
vulnerable areas.
• Coordination with district task forces chaired by district authorities, with participation
from coal companies and local police, where periodic reviews and joint actions are carried
out.
• Community engagement, including awareness campaigns in nearby villages through
signboards, notice pasting, and meetings with local leaders to discourage unauthorized
trespassing.
• Immediate seizure of illegally mined coal and handing over of apprehended miscreants
to police, wherever such activities are detected.
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