Dhanbad Mining Department Demands Massive Rs 18,425 Crore from Major Coal and Steel Firms
In a significant enforcement action, the district mining department in Dhanbad has issued stringent notices to several of India's largest coal and steel corporations. The notices direct Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL-Mugma), Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL–Chasnala), and Tata Steel Limited (Jharia Division) to collectively deposit a staggering sum exceeding Rs 18,425 crore for revenue recovery purposes.
Strict 15-Day Deadline and Legal Consequences
The companies have been formally instructed to deposit the specified amounts within a strict period of 15 days from the date of the notice's issuance. Failure to comply with this directive will result in the initiation of certificate cases against the firms, a legal process to enforce the recovery of dues.
District Mining Officer (DMO) Ritesh Raj Tigga provided critical context for this substantial financial demand. He stated that the recovery action is being undertaken in direct compliance with the directions issued by the Supreme Court of India. The core issue stems from investigations revealing that these mining companies engaged in coal extraction activities that extended beyond their legally permitted areas during the period spanning from 2000 to 2010.
Wide-Ranging Scope Involving 59 Collieries
The case encompasses a total of 59 individual collieries across the four major companies. The breakdown of involved sites is as follows:
- Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL): 46 collieries
- Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL-Mugma): 8 collieries
- Tata Steel Jharia Division: 3 collieries
- SAIL Chasnala: 2 collieries
This widespread involvement underscores the scale of the alleged unauthorized mining operations that have prompted this high-stakes revenue recovery effort.
Detailed Breakdown of Financial Demands
The district mining department has provided a detailed assessment of the amounts owed by each company:
- Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL): Directed to pay Rs 17,337.87 crore. This massive sum pertains to multiple mining areas including Chanch Victoria, Govindpur, Katras, Sijua, Barora, Block-II, Kusunda, PB Area, Bastakola, Lodna, Eastern Jharia, and Western Jharia.
- Tata Steel Jharia Division: Ordered to deposit Rs 385.19 crore.
- Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL-Mugma): Asked to deposit Rs 328.77 crore.
- SAIL Chasnala: Required to pay Rs 333.42 crore.
The cumulative total of these individual demands forms the overarching recovery target of over Rs 18,425 crore.
Formal Authorization and Communication
The state government has formally authorized the District Mining Officer and the Assistant Mining Officer to spearhead the recovery process for this colossal amount. In line with procedural requirements, officials from the concerned companies have been formally notified about the action and the impending financial demands.
As of late evening on the day the notices were issued, representatives from the implicated companies could not be reached for their official comments or responses regarding the notices and the allegations of unauthorized extraction. The industrial landscape of Dhanbad, marked by vast open-pit mines and extensive conveyor systems, now faces a pivotal moment as these corporate giants confront one of the largest revenue recovery actions in recent mining history.
