VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Nov 16: Bosses of the Jharkhand mining department deliberately turned blind eyes towards Sahibganj district despite knowing about rampant illegal stone mining in the district.
This is evident from the fact that since the last two years the State Level Task Force against Illegal Mining (SLTFIM) did not review mining related activities in this district.
Well placed sources in the department confided that since the last two years Sahibganj was not included in the review meeting by the SLTFIM. Even the illegal mining of Deoghar and Pakur district was reviewed during regular meetings of SLTFIM. But Sahibganj which is the major producer of stones, SLTFIM mysteriously remained silent. Even on November 3 when the SLTFIM meeting was called (later postponed) Sahibganj was not included.
Notably, the Enforcement Directorate is investigating Rs. 1000 Crore illegal stone mining where Sahibganj has emerged as theatre of illegal mining scam. The district is the home borough of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the ED arrested his MLA representative Pankaj Mishra in the illegal mining scam. The mining department is headed by the Chief Minister and coincidently, the ED arrested the then mining secretary Pooja Singhal in the MNREGA scam.
SLTFIM is the apex body chaired by the mining secretary which reviews any kind of illegal mining in the districts and pass necessary orders to stop it. The meeting is attended by DC and SP of the respective districts besides senior officials of the state police headquarter, pollution control board and representative of the mining department who should be joint secretary rank official.
As per an official order dated 5th October 2005, state taskforce and district taskforce were constituted to curb the illegal mining. The order is self explanatory that clearly defines the role of concerned districts and officials.
