SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Mar 21: Social activist of coal belt Durga Devi has shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the rampant illegal mining near coal mines of Dhanbad. She has expressed apprehension that a major disaster may happen any time if it is not checked immediately.
Durga Devi, who shot off a memorandum to the PMO today, has pointed out that despite the mines’ disaster in Kapasara mines of Mugma Area (in Nirsa block of Dhanbad) on February 1, 2022 (in which five persons died), illegal mining continues.
According to her, the Grand Chord rail line between Kolkata –Delhi near Mugma railway station can cave in at any time as the illegal coal mining is being done hardly around 500 metres away under the track.
“Members of illegal mining syndicate not only put the lives of innocent poor villagers of Dhanbad, Giridih and Jamtara districts at stake by sending them in dangerous mines for illegal mining but also send coal to other states on fake paper,” the activist has said.
She charged that minors and women are being used on large scale in illegal mining despite the notice of the National Child Rights Protection Commission (NCRPC) which took serious note of the death of miners in the mines tragedy on February 1.
Durga Devi has alleged that local police are involved in this illegal coal industry and has demanded safety monitoring by a central agency.
The social activist has expressed apprehension that thousands of villages based in the mines area may cave in any time as illegal mining is done round the clock in the area.
After February 1’s incident, this is the third time when social activists have complained against illegal mining in Dhanbad. Anil Kumar of Sindri had first written NCRPC about the involvement of minors. Later on, Vijay Jha of Katras had written to the ministry of coal and now Durga Devi of Nirsa has sent a memorandum to the PMO.
