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Calling Dhanbad district a “hotbed” of gangs indulging in illicit coal trade, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued notice to Jharkhand Government over economic hardships faced by tribals and “illegal mining” in the Naxal-affected area.
The Commission said that “abject poverty” was the reason behind spread of Naxalism in the region.
Regarding mining, the NHRC said that gangs were recruiting local tribals to illegally mine coal and pointed out the inadequate response to the threat posed by underground coal fires in the region.
It also shared other findings made by its team about the ground situation prevailing in Dhanbad.
“Gangs recruit tribals to illegally mine coal for them and carry it to distant collection points. While going from Ranchi to Dhanbad, one could see beeline of cycles, carrying coal, up steep gradients,” the NHRC said in a press statement.
“In the process of illegal mining many people are killed, but matters are not reported under the influence of the gangsters and due to the economic compulsions faced by the tribals,” the statement added.
The Commission also observed that no action had been taken to either control the coal mafia or bring the illegal trade in the ambit of legal procurement.
The NHRC findings also point to an alarming situation prevailing in the district due to underground coal fires and tardy implementation of rehabilitation plans.
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