SAMBALPUR/BRAJRAJNAGAR:Hundreds of villagers of areas such as Khinda in Sambalpuir district and Punjipathar and Talabira II in Jharsuguda district are putting their lives at risk while illegally mining coal to make a fast buck. They toil till late in the evening and this has been going on for long in areas where coal lies just below the top soil in abundance.
Ironically, the land on which the villagers mine coal illegally belongs to the State Government and none among the officials has ever visited the place or tried to stop the extraction. Apart from revenue loss to the State exchequer, there is also the possibility of people getting buried alive in case of tunnels caving in.
Of late, the trade is being carried out with more audacity and trucks and pick-up vans are being used to transport the coal extracted illegally. Coal blocks packed in bags and loaded on bicycle is a common sight on State Highway 10 and this speaks volume about the magnitude of the illegal trade.
The entire trade is allegedly controlled by a handful of mafia, mostly locals who get the lion’s share of the proceeds. After digging a pit measuring 25 feet X 25 feet till they reach the coal bed, tunnels are dug measuring 200 metres in length. Then, about 200 villagers, including daily wage earners, crawl to extract coal. They work from 4 am to 8 pm. With torch lights tied to their bodies, they go into tunnel to mine coal. The coal is then dumped in the depots from where it is sold illegally.
Sources refusing to be identified said four persons run the illegal trade and are hand in glove with the officials and the police. Besides paying wage to those working inside the tunnel risking their lives, a bicycle load of the illegal coal is also given to them which fetches them an additional Rs 800 to Rs 1,000. The coals extracted are sold at prices ranging from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per tonne and since it comes in big chunks and has no dust, there is high demand, they added. They said the coal is sold to coal briquette units and brick kilns and police are aware of the trade. They also informed that of late, trucks and pick-up vans are being used to transport illegal coal and it has become a means of earning for a majority of the villagers.
A villager, Ashok Rohidas, said he is more worried about lives of people working in the tunnels than anything else. In case the tunnel caves in, hundreds of people may be buried alive. A disaster is waiting to happen and unfortunately none seems bothered, he added.
Khinda Sarpanch Nilabati Oram admitted that the illegal extraction of coal has been going on since long and Thelkuli police station is aware if it. She said they visit the spot, but are helpless to stop it.
While IIC of Thelkuli police station Suresh Mishra feigned ignorance about the illegal excavation of coal, Brajrajnagar SDPO R P Sahu said as he has joined recently, he is unaware about the operation. However, he assured that police will be sent to the spot.Similarly, Deputy Director Mines, Sambalpur, B Rout said he had no information about illegal extraction of coal. He said once the matter is ascertained, necessary action would be taken.
Disaster waiting to happen
● People go into tunnels to mine coal
● In case the tunnel caves in, hundreds of people may be buried alive
● The trade is being carried out with more audacity and trucks and pick-up vans are being used to transport coal