Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Oct 8: Jamshedpur West MLA and Chairman of the Assembly’s Assurances Committee, Saryu Roy, has written a detailed letter to Chief Minister Hemant Soren highlighting the rampant illegal coal mining and trade in the Bermo subdivision of Bokaro district.
In his letter, Roy stated that several conscious citizens from the region had been sending him verified written complaints regarding large-scale illegal activities involving coal theft and unlicensed processing. “Despite informing the district administration, police and CCL authorities, no concrete action has been taken. This inaction has emboldened those involved in illegal trade while discouraging citizens who dare to speak up,” Roy wrote.
He alleged that the illegal coal racket operates freely across Penk Narayanpur, Nawadih, Dugdha, Petarwar, Bokaro Thermal, Kathara OP and Tenughat OP, using bikes, tractors, vans and trucks. According to Roy, the operation, once managed at the police station level, has now expanded, with organized groups from Ramgarh, Dhanbad, Giridih, Hazaribagh, Ranchi and Bokaro running the trade. “These coal mafias claim deep political and administrative connections and even threaten to transfer police officers,” he noted.
Roy further pointed out that several coal processing factories are flouting environmental protection norms, naming units such as Ruby Coal Factory (Nawadih), Jagdamba Coal Factory (Pilkilo, Penk Narayanpur), Nishad Coal Factory (Pichhri, Petarwar) and Poradag and Khaki Coal Factories (Giridih). He said these factories operate at night and continue coal burning under open skies near residential areas, causing severe carbon monoxide pollution.
“The fact that no effective action has been taken even though the Deputy Commissioner chairs the district’s Environment Protection Committee reflects the seriousness of the situation,” Roy wrote. He alleged that most stolen coal originates from CCL’s B&K, Kathara and Dhori areas, as well as from closed mines and railway sidings in nearby regions. Citing social media reports, he mentioned that local transporters charge Rs 3,000 per motorcycle, Rs 50,000–Rs 60,000 per van and Rs 1,000 per tractor per month to move stolen coal. Roy urged the Chief Minister to take immediate steps to end the illegal trade and penalize those responsible.
