Mahakalapara: Smuggling of coal from Paradip industrial estate goes on unabated through river and sea routes to seaside villages in this block of Kendrapara district due to lack of effective patrolling, a report said.
The illegal transport has made a few unscrupulous persons rich as they sell the coal to industrial units, hotels, restaurants and households. The miscreants steal the coal after goods trains carrying it arrive at Paradip railway station.
They engage poor women and children to steal the coal from trains. This has become a common sight at the railway station. The women and children risk their lives and climb over the wagons and sneak between two loads to steal coal. However, the railway officials have never tried to stop the coal theft fearing retaliation from the mafia.
The coal is then packed in cement bags and transported illegally to seaside villages like Batighara, Kharinasi, Jambu, Ramnagar and other regions under this block with the help of motorboats.
Observers claimed that lack of proper patrolling and punitive action on the part of police has emboldened the miscreants to carry on the illegal trade with impunity. They claimed that the entire business runs into crores of rupees and an organised racket is behind the coal smuggling which needs to be checked to stop the illegal operation.
Sources said on an average 10 motorboats carry coal consignments daily to these regions which are then sold at exorbitant prices to local traders. It is alleged that the miscreants have managed to transport the coal from Paradip industrial estate by paying out to the staff concerned.
The local traders then prepare pellets out of the coal and dry them under the sun. Later, the coal lumps are packed in plastic bags and sold to hotels, roadside dhabas, restaurants, tea stalls and households at Rs 200-300 per bag.
Though the illegal operation has been going on through river and sea routes, the marine police and Coastguard have never cracked down on the transporters.
Jamboo marine police IIC Priyabrata Dash said that the illegal transportation of coal has come to his notice and very soon action will be taken against the wrongdoers.
PNN
