VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Sept 29: The illegal stone mining probe has revealed that since 2020, as many as 3531 rakes were loaded with stone chips from several loading points in Sahibganj and adjoining areas without any mining challans. These illegal mining proceeds were transported illegally to different destinations without paying royalty to the state government.
As per a rough estimate — even if it is considered as a case of theft of royalty — this has caused a loss of Rs. 155.71 crore to the state government. But the actual loss may be much higher as the charge sheet indicates these were illegally mined stone chips.
The ED made this disclosure in its prosecution complaint (Chargesheet) in the illegal mining case worth Rs 1000 crore. Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s MLA representative Pankaj Mishra has been named as an accused along with powerbroker Prem Prakash and a local criminal Bacchu Yadav.
“The investigation in respect of the rakes loaded with stone chips from several railway loading points in Sahibganj and adjoining areas is in progress. Investigation as of day reveals that in the last two years i.e. since 2020, nearly 3531 rakes have been loaded with stone chips without mining challans and these mining proceeds have been transported illegally to different destinations without paying the royalty to the public exchequer,” the ED has stated.
The ED has annexed the rake booking report provided by the Malda division of the Eastern Railway. The agency further recorded the statement of the Senior DCM of the Malda division who corroborated the findings of the agency. The ED has stated that stone chips were transported from Pirpainti (Bihar) and other railway stations in Sahibganj.
One rake generally consists of 42 wagons. One wagon can carry 42 cubic meters of stone chips and the entire rake can carry 1764 cubic meters of stone chips. Going by this calculation, a total of 6295773 cubic meters of stone chips were transported by 3531 rakes. The government charges Rs. 250 per cubic meter as royalty and Rs. 130 is charged for boulders.
The ED has quoted relevant sections of the different Acts related to mining and transportation of mineral products.
As per section 15 of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957 the state government is empowered to frame rules for regulating the grant of mining leases or other mineral concessions in respect of minor minerals and for purposes connected therewith. The holder of a mining lease or any other minerals concession granted under rules made by the State Government shall pay royalty at the rate prescribed for the time being in the rules so framed.
Further, as per the Jharkhand Mineral Transit Challan regulations, 2005 all dispatches of ores and minerals except those by aerial ropeway shall be accompanied by transit Challans. As per para 9 of The Jharkhand Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2017 no person shall transport or otherwise remove or carry away any mineral from any place without obtaining a transport challan duly generated through JIMMS.
The ED has stated that illegal transportation was done through the river Ganga also. Pankaj Mishra controls inland ferry service and trucks laden with stone chips were transported without any challan. The ED stated that the district mining officer of Bibhuti Kumar has conceded that illegal mining and transportation of stone chips have taken place and given the list of details of such stone-laden trucks sent out of Sahibganj through cargo ships.
