Bilaspur, June 23. A four-day Awareness and Capacity Building Training Programme for authorized SECL officers under Sections 22, 23B and 24 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) commenced today at the Management Development Institute (MDI), SECL Headquarters, Bilaspur. The programme was inaugurated by Shri Biranchi Das, Director (HR), SECL.
As per the Government of India Gazette Notification, officials of SECL, CISF, TSR and the State Industrial Security Force (SISF), Madhya Pradesh, have been empowered to take action against illegal coal mining and coal theft under the aforesaid provisions of the MMDR Act. The authorization enables designated officers to file complaints directly before the Court of Law, thereby facilitating expeditious and effective disposal of cases related to illegal mining and coal theft.
For imparting training during the programme, Shri Vipul Shukla, former Inspector General (IG) of Jharkhand Police and a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, has been invited as the subject expert. Presently serving as Senior Advisor (Security), BCCL, he will provide detailed insights into various provisions of the MMDR Act, legal procedures related to illegal mining and transportation of minerals, investigation processes, evidence collection, and preparation of Strong Prosecution Reports.
The training programme, being conducted from 23 to 26 June 2026 in different batches, is witnessing participation from senior SECL officials, Area Security Nodal Officers, General Managers, Agents, Managers, officers and employees from Human Resource and Security Departments, as well as personnel from CISF, TSR and SISF (Madhya Pradesh).
The objective of the programme is to enhance awareness among authorized officers regarding their powers, responsibilities and legal procedures under the MMDR Act, while strengthening their capability to effectively address issues related to illegal mining and coal theft.
