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Demands for a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged large-scale coal scam in Sundargarh district was formally made on Thursday by local MLA Jogesh Kumar Singh and the Deputy Speaker of Legislative Assembly Bhabani Shankar Bhoi, including several others.
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The Deputy Speaker, through a letter, has urged the Chief Minister to probe the scandal. Similarly, Jogesh Singh requested a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
This plea follows investigative footage from OTV, revealing an illegal coal racket in the Telendihi forest, prompting swift administrative action. Authorities have quickly mobilised to unearth the ground-level mafia linked to the illegal activity.
Action taken following OTV report
The Deputy Director of Mines announced the deployment of a nine-member enforcement squad to probe from tomorrow. However, speculation continues regarding the identities and protection of those behind the Telendihi coal heist.
Deputy Speaker Bhabani Bhoi's correspondence with the CM includes a recommendation for a Special Taskforce (STF) to examine illicit mining activities in the Hemgiri and Koida regions. Reports suggest that illegally mined coal, iron ore, and manganese are being smuggled into neighbouring states, with local officials lacking sufficient oversight.
Deputy Speaker Bhoi has called for stringent measures against identified mafias and any complicit government employees. Echoing similar concerns, MLA Singh expressed dissatisfaction with the Forest and Mining Departments’ apparent unawareness of the illegal operations.
Singh has appealed to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister for a CBI probe, specifically targeting the Telendihi, Ratansara, and Jamkani areas in Sundargarh. OTV's evidence-backed report led to increased action from the district administration, which previously claimed ignorance of the secret extraction and stockpiling of hundreds of tonnes of coal.
In response, the State government has tasked the District Collector and the Deputy Director of Mines to deliver detailed findings within three days. Local authorities, the police, and the Mining Department are conducting on-site investigations.
Nearby factories are also being investigated. While the police are interrogating some suspects, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) has stated that efforts are underway to nab all the mafias. As of now, 142 tonnes of coal have been confiscated.
Despite earlier warnings in May last year from the Forest Department, notably a letter from the Gopalpur ranger to the Hemgir tehsildar about illegal mining in the reserve forest, administrative reaction was delayed.
The Sundargarh district Collector has issued a show-cause notice to the former tehsildar, seeking explanations for the communication lapse and intensifying scrutiny.
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“So far, we have seized around 142 tonnes of coal in the last two days. The confiscated coal ores have been kept at the MCL stockyard and under their safe custody. A detailed assessment is underway to ascertain the total volume of illegally mined coal,” the Deputy Director of Mines Bimbadhar Sethi expressed.
Reported By: Debabrata Jena
