20 June,2026 08:35 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Officials believe the new powers will improve the speed and effectiveness of action against coal theft while strengthening prosecution efforts. Pic/Special Arrangement
India's coal sector has received a significant boost following legal reforms that have expanded the powers of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in tackling coal theft and illegal mining activities.
Coal remains a critical resource for the country's energy and industrial needs. However, organised criminal networks involved in illegal coal extraction and smuggling have long posed a challenge to both the government and public sector mining companies.
Recent amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) have transformed the role of the CISF from a security provider into a more empowered enforcement agency.
Under the revised framework, authorised CISF officers can now directly file complaints before competent courts and conduct searches of vehicles and premises suspected of being involved in illegal coal activities. Previously, the force was required to hand over suspects to local police, often leading to delays in legal proceedings.
Officials believe the new powers will improve the speed and effectiveness of action against coal theft while strengthening prosecution efforts.
The experience of the CISF at the Kargali unit of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) in Jharkhand's Bermo coal belt highlights the scale of the crackdown.
During 2025, CISF personnel seized around 1,100 tonnes of illegally extracted coal valued at approximately Rs 24 lakh. This represents a substantial increase compared with the 250 tonnes recovered during the previous year.
The number of anti-theft operations also increased sharply, rising from 128 raids in 2024 to 220 raids in 2025.
Enforcement action against coal smuggling networks has also intensified.
Authorities intercepted and seized 102 vehicles allegedly involved in illegal coal transportation during 2025, compared with just 12 vehicles in the previous year. Officials estimate that these actions helped prevent annual revenue losses of between Rs 3 crore and Rs 4 crore in the Kargali area alone.
According to officials, criminal groups continue to alter their methods to avoid detection.
One recently identified tactic involved the use of motorcycles to transport smaller quantities of coal through remote forest tracks and village roads before transferring the material to larger vehicles.
In response, the CISF conducted a special five-day night operation that resulted in the seizure of 24 motorcycles carrying illegal coal.
Officials said the operation effectively disrupted the new smuggling network.
The officials stress that the Kargali operation is only one example of wider efforts being carried out across India's coal-producing regions.
The CISF has reportedly increased surveillance, intelligence gathering and enforcement activities in multiple coal belts to prevent illegal extraction and transportation of coal.
The strengthened legal framework is expected to support these efforts by enabling quicker action and reducing dependence on other agencies during the prosecution process.
Officials believe the reforms will help safeguard valuable national resources and ensure that revenue generated from coal production benefits the public rather than criminal networks.
