SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, May 12: Congress, one of the coalition partners in the Jharkhand government, has demanded that a High Court justice and the Directorate General of Mines Safety investigate illicit mining deaths in Dhanbad (DGMS).
While expressing concern over the deaths of persons in an incident on May 11, Congress district president Brajendra Prasad Singh asked for an immediate halt to illegal mining in the district’s several collieries, as well as punishment against those responsible.
“Five people died during illegal mining in Kapasara colliery of Eastern Coalfield Limited (ECL) Mugma Area on May 11. Earlier, 10 people had died on February 1 in Kapasara and three women in Dahibadi Patch of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL). The incidents must be probed by a justice of High Court and DGMS and victim family should be paid Rs 5 lakh as compensation,” he said.
Congress district president held Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Coal India Limited (CIL) management’s failure as responsible for the death.
Notably, ECL management and district administration have denied any incident in Kapasara colliery and anyone’s death. However, former Nirsa MLA Arup Chatterjee claimed the death of three people in the May 11 incident.
Illegal mining is being done in the district in the connivance of CISF and coal company officers. Both are also responsible for the death of innocent people in illegal mining. He expressed surprise that illegal coal traders bring people from Bengal for illegal mining in Dhanbad colliery and get it done it openly in collusion with the local administration.
