Repeated fires at Adasa coal yard in Saoner raise stock and accountability questions at WCL

Nagpur: Fires at the Adasa UG to OC coal yard in the Saoner sub-area of Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) have raised serious questions about stock management and the protection of government property.

Coal Yard-1 has caught fire several times in the past three months. For Coal Yard-2, it is alleged that old, burnt coal affected by fire was mixed into fresh stock. About 2.5 lakh metric tonnes of coal stock is estimated to be involved, and around 1 lakh metric tonnes of coal to have been affected. However, official confirmation of these figures and of the alleged mixing of old coal is still awaited.

Four questions are being described as the most important in the matter, and their investigation is considered necessary.

The first is who is responsible for the burning of government property. The fires have caused losses of crores of rupees, so the officer responsible should be identified.

Second, stock management is under scrutiny. When fires broke out in Coal Yard-1, how much damage was caused and what safety improvements were made afterwards should be examined. An independent inquiry has also been called for into the allegation of old coal being mixed with new in Coal Yard-2.

Third, responsibility must be fixed. The role of Adasa's management and the officers and employees concerned should be examined impartially. If evidence of safety lapses, irregularities in records or violation of rules is found, action should be taken as per rules. The actual loss to government property should also be assessed.

The fourth question is whether this is coincidence, negligence or part of something larger. Questions have already been raised about the quality, grade and stock management of the coal, and the fires have deepened suspicion. Even so, no allegation of a conspiracy or of destruction of evidence has been confirmed. An impartial investigation, a transparent report and accountability are therefore needed rather than speculation.

The inquiry should reconcile the quantities of old and new coal, quality reports, weighment slips and the stock register. It should also be made clear whether the set rules for keeping fire-affected coal separate and testing its quality were followed.

Members of the public and coal consumers have demanded an impartial inquiry into the matter by the CVC or the CBI.