Sundargarh’s top district official, Collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan, has taken serious note of illegal coal mining in the Hemgir region and is pushing for immediate action.
What’s Happening in Hemgir?
It seems that a large-scale coal smuggling operation has been going on under the radar for quite some time in Hemgir, a coal-rich area in the Sundargarh district of Odisha. According to reports received by the Collector, illegal mining activities have been active for a long period, and the coal dug out of the earth is being smuggled through backdoor routes—completely bypassing government oversight and revenue channels.
This kind of illegal activity not only robs the government of crores in revenue but also raises serious environmental and safety concerns.
Collector’s Swift Response
In response, Collector Mahajan wrote directly to three key officials:
- The Sub-Collector of Sundargarh
- The Deputy Director of Mines (DDM) in Rourkela
- The Tahasildar of Hemgir
He instructed them to swing into action without delay.
What Has Been Ordered?
The Collector has laid out a clear action plan:
- Immediate inspections of all nearby coal washeries (where raw coal is cleaned) and depots (where coal is stored).
- Officials must check all stock records and verify supporting documents.
- If any irregularities or suspicious activities are found—such as mismatched stock numbers or unaccounted coal—it must be dealt with strictly and legally.
Fast-Track Action Plan
What makes this order stand out is the urgency attached to it. The Collector has set a deadline—all inspections and verifications must be wrapped up within three days. Once completed, a detailed compliance report must be submitted to him.
Why This Matters
Illegal coal mining isn’t just a case of missing paperwork. It has wide-reaching consequences:
- Environmental damage from unregulated digging
- Safety hazards for laborers working in unsafe, unregulated mines
- Loss of public money as coal smuggling avoids taxes and royalties owed to the government
- And often, these rackets are tied to criminal networks
By ordering a swift crackdown, the Collector is sending a strong message that illegal mining and smuggling won’t be tolerated under his watch.
