Jharkhand High Court Summons Officials Over Dhanbad Air Pollution, Illegal Mining

Ranchi: Taking a note of the increasing air pollution in Dhanbad, Jharkhand High Court on Thursday directed the deputy commissioner (DC), SSP, member secretary of Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) and Dhanbad town commissioner to appear in person on Apr 2.

A division bench of Chief Justice MS Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar issued the order while hearing a PIL by Gramin Ekta Manch, a non-profit outfit which brought to light the rising pollution levels in Dhanbad. In its PIL, the outfit claimed that air pollution was on the rise due to rampant illegal coal mining across the district. “The authorities have failed to control the illegal mining and hence the pollution is also unchecked,” the petitioner said.

The court also directed the Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) chairman-cum-managing director to appear in the case in person and inform what steps can be taken to check illegal mining in the district.

BCCL said it has taken steps to convert mines into parks for public use. The BCCL has registered several FIRs for illegal mining, but no action has been taken by the police and the district administration, the counsel informed the court. The petitioner also mentioned that no steps were being taken to check air pollution in Dhanbad.

The BCCL informed the HC that coal transport is being done through trucks which are covered to prevent cold dust from being spread in the air. “Timely monitoring of transportation of coal and frequent water spraying is also being done to check the pollution level,” the PSU said.