Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: The illegal coal trade in Jharkhand continues unabated—not only is coal being mined and stored unlawfully, but it is also being supplied to sponge iron factories in Ramgarh district in large quantities. The supply chain reportedly connects the coalfields of Tandwa in Chatra to Ramgarh’s industrial units, with the involvement of coal mafias, transporters, factory owners, and allegedly, some complicit officials.
Coal routed through shadow operations
Fresh reports suggest that coal extracted from various collieries in Tandwa is being transported to Ramgarh by a network of transporters. These operators then hand over the coal to another company—identified with the name “Sangita”—which completes the delivery to Ramgarh’s sponge iron plants. Sources claim a separate siding has been set up near the railway siding to facilitate this operation. To legalize the transactions, GST numbers have been acquired, giving the illicit trade a cover of legitimacy.
Coal on paper, but questions remain
Officials defending the movement argue that trucks operate under registered GST numbers. However, they conveniently avoid addressing the core question—where is the coal actually coming from? The nighttime transportation of coal continues without interruption. A man named Sandeep is said to coordinate the entire network, managing financial flows to officials at district and divisional levels. Some payments allegedly go directly to bureaucrats, while others are routed through intermediaries.
Factory demand exceeds legal supply
Ramgarh houses several sponge iron and other industrial units requiring lakhs of tonnes of coal every month. However, data suggests that these companies procure significantly less coal through official CCL (Central Coalfields Limited) channels. To bridge the gap between their official coal intake and actual production output, companies reportedly rely on illegally mined or smuggled coal from nearby regions.
CBI crackdown looming
The Central Bureau of Investigation recently raided CCL offices in Ramgarh and recovered documents indicating a ₹10 lakh payoff related to coal transportation. Sources say the CBI is treating the matter seriously and a large-scale crackdown may follow soon. Despite widespread activity, not all police or administrative officials are involved—but the operation appears to function under the protection of a select few.
Key players in illegal mining
The illegal trade is thriving in areas like Gola, where operators such as Bajrang; in Barkasayal, Pawan Sahu from Patratu; and in Ramgarh, individuals named Vinod and Bundela are said to be actively involved in extracting and supplying coal to factories without any legal oversight.
