New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to implement a "Zero Coal Leakage Plan" aimed at curbing illegal mining and coal theft in Jharkhand's Dhanbad region, instructing the force to set up quick response teams and layered security cover in sensitive zones.
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The directive came during a high-level review meeting Shah held with Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy on July 5 to take stock of the illegal coal-mining situation and incidents of coal theft in the area, according to a government statement.
The meeting was told that CISF personnel and officials of Coal India Limited (CIL) have already been granted authority to act under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. According to the statement, this authorisation legally enables them to "file cases in court, enter premises where illegal coal is suspected to be stored, conduct search and seizure operations, and seize illegally extracted minerals along with the tools, equipment, and vehicles used in such unauthorised activities."
While welcoming these powers, Shah flagged the deteriorating state of illegal mining and coal theft in Dhanbad and adjoining areas, and said far more needed to be done to tackle the problem. The statement quoted him as noting that "although powers had been entrusted to CISF and Coal India Limited officials under the MMDR Act, these powers must be exercised rigorously and in a coordinated manner, in line with the approved Standard Operating Procedure."
Among the key directions issued at the meeting, the statement said, was the adoption of the Zero Coal Leakage Plan "to ensure a comprehensive and time-bound response to illegal mining and the unauthorised transportation of coal." Shah also asked the coal ministry to periodically review the action being taken on the ground.
He further instructed his own ministry's officials to place the coal sector on the priority list for CISF deployment, so that personnel can be posted without delay in areas identified as vulnerable to illegal activity.
Shah said involving GST authorities was necessary to ensure that only legally mined coal reaches consumers and to discourage the movement of illegally extracted coal. "To ensure that consumers use only legally mined coal and to deter the transportation of illegal coal, it was considered necessary to involve GST authorities. A mechanism should, therefore, be put in place to verify e-way bills for all coal being transported," he said.
The home minister also directed CISF to constitute Quick Response Teams and put in place a multi-layered security arrangement in vulnerable pockets. This, the statement said, would allow "prompt action against illegal miners whenever information is received."
Coal ministry officials briefed Shah on the measures taken since the last review, held in the first week of October 2025. They informed him that the Union Home Secretary, Govind Mohan, had chaired a follow-up high-level meeting in December 2025, at which several decisions were taken, including one to set up a dedicated coordination body. The statement noted that "it was also informed that Union Home Secretary had chaired a high-level meeting in December 2025 wherein several important decisions were taken including direction to constitute a Coal Sector Coordination Committee which has since been constituted."
Shah underlined the need for greater use of technology in the crackdown, directing that high-resolution cameras installed at Integrated Command and Control Centres "should be used to identify areas and persons involved in illegal mining activities," the statement said.
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The meeting was attended by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, the Union Coal Secretary, and senior officials from the Ministry of Coal, CISF, Coal India Limited and Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
