VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Aug 19: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is understood to have asked Sahibganj district administration to furnish a report related to the cargo ship accident in river Ganga where some persons died when an overloaded vessel carrying stone chips laden trucks tilted.
The ED has called for the report as part of the investigation against illegal stone and transportation in Sahibganj. It was alleged that the said vessel which met with an accident was operating at night time which is prohibited under the provisions of the Bengal Ferry Act. It was further stated that the district administration in connivance with mining mafias allowed ferrying of overloaded vessels from a ghat which is not notified by the government. The accident had taken place in March. But Sahibganj Deputy Commissioner Ram Nivas Yadav contradicted the allegations. He said that the said vessel was neither operating at night time nor it was overloaded. He denied any illegality and said that the vessel developed a technical snag. The district administration also formed a probe committee.
But the ED is not convinced with such explanations because its own investigation speaks otherwise. Now to cross check the fact the ED has asked the district administration to provide a detailed report.
Reliable sources have said that the ED with a formal summon is set to record the statement of the Sahibganj DC on the issue of illegal mining in the district. Under Jharkhand Minor Mineral Concession Rules, the DC is overall responsible to ensure transparency and that no illegal mining and transportation of minor minerals takes place. The DC also heads the district taskforce against illegal mining. Ram Nivas Yadav joined as the DC of Sahibganj in 2020. It is alleged that the mining mafias rampantly and rapaciously carried illegal stone mining. The allegation has been substantiated during the investigation of the ED in the illegal stone mining case.
Further, the ED has asked the district administration that it may require revenue officials of the district to understand intricacies of the land revenue matter.
On being contacted, the Sahibganj DC denied that the ED either summoned or sought any report. “They seek deputation of some officers. It is an official matter that I can’t disclose,” said the DC.
