VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, June 7: The Jharkhand Integrated Mines and Minerals Management System (JIMMS) software introduced by the Jharkhand government in 2016 to ensure transparency in e-permit and e-transport, was not immune from misuse.
As the Enforcement Directorate is likely to conduct a forensic analysis of the JIMMS to know about the number of challans of e-permit and e-transport, sources in the department said that even verbal orders were given to the JIMMS operator to stop challans to the lessee without any reason.
Sources in the department claimed many such cases have taken place including one in West Singhbhum where online challans of as many as 33 iron ore crusher units were suspended on the oral orders in 2020. The ID of these iron crusher units was blocked so that they don’t access any information. This was the period when K. Srinivasan was the mining secretary.
It should be noted that K. Srinivasan as the mining secretary in July last year had passed a verbal order directing mining officers of Palamu, Garhwa, and Latehar to stop issuing the online sand transportation challans to leases.
The interesting aspect of the West Singhbhum case was that the then mining officer Sanjeev Kumar was on leave and he was under treatment as he was diagnosed with Covid-19. Sanjeev Kumar is currently the mining officer of the Ranchi district and he was recently questioned by the ED in the Angara stone mining lease case related to Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
A senior official of the department said that on being checked the JIMMS portal displayed that the above online challans were suspended by an order of the DMO whereas the DMO was not aware of.
“When Sanjeev Kumar joined the office after his leave, owners of iron ore crusher units met him and asked him to explain the reasons behind the suspension of the online challans. Sanjeev Kumar was surprised. He turned angry and when inquired about the matter the JIMMS management told him that a top official of the mining department had ordered to suspend the online challan,” said sources.
Sanjeev Kumar had a serious dispute with his seniors over this matter and he was later transferred to Palamu. About three months later, the order was withdrawn and challans were issued to these iron ore crusher units. One Pappu Gupta said to be close to that top official, was instrumental in resuming the online challans.
