The Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) on Sunday dismissed recent allegations that coal stocks had gone missing from the company, saying there was “no truth” in the claims.
In a statement issued here, the SCCL said all processes related to coal production, stock maintenance, transportation, and sales were being carried out with complete transparency under the supervision of advanced technological systems and ‘robust’ coal transportation, security, and monitoring mechanisms were currently in place across the organisation.
“From the moment coal is produced in the mines until it reaches the end consumer, every stage is digitally recorded and monitored. Approximately 85 percent of the coal is transported through railways, while the remaining 15 percent is supplied through road transport,’’ it said.
On the allocations, it said: “Coal allocations are made through an integrated SAP-based system. Details such as consumer, mine, quantity, and supply schedule are digitally recorded in advance. Information pertaining to every tonne of coal is continuously monitored through Coal Net, SAP, and other online systems.”
Every vehicle transporting coal by road was weighed at electronic weighbridges and the vehicle movements are monitored in real time through Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based boom barriers, GPS/GPRS tracking systems, and geo-fencing technology, the Hyderabad-based company said.
Designated routes
“Any deviation from designated routes is immediately detected and monitored through the system. Loading and dispatch details of every railway wagon are also digitally recorded. CCTV surveillance, RFID systems, check-posts, flying squads, and security personnel maintain round-the-clock monitoring at mines, Coal Handling Plants (CHPs), weighbridges, railway sidings, stockyards, and entry-exit points,’’ it said, adding that surprise inspections and special security patrols are being conducted on a continuous basis.
The coal production and transportation are being carried out under a multi-layered security framework comprising RFID, GPS, CCTV surveillance, Coal Net, electronic weighbridges, Singareni Security personnel, flying squads, hologram challans, and task force monitoring systems, SCCL said.
“Therefore, allegations that coal has been stolen or has gone missing are completely baseless and far removed from the facts,’’ the SCCL management said.