The Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), Satish Jha, paid a courtesy visit yesterday to Peeyush Pandey, the acting Director General (DGP) of West Bengal Police, at his office in Kolkata.
During the meeting, a range of matters concerning the central public sector coal-producing company were discussed in a cordial and constructive atmosphere. Sources said that DGP Peeyush Pandey assured his full cooperation and continued support on the issues deliberated, reaffirming the importance of coordinated efforts between the administration and the company.
The interaction underscored a shared commitment to strengthening institutional collaboration in the interest of smooth operations and mutual development.
Incidentally, IPS officer Peeyush Pandey had earlier served as Superintendent of Police (SP) of the erstwhile Burdwan district during the Left Front regime and is well acquainted with the coal-bearing areas of the Asansol and Durgapur sub-divisions, as well as the socio-political background of the region.
The meeting between the head of the state’s largest coal mining company and the state’s top police officer is significant, particularly at a time when the CBI and the ED are investigating several cases related to coal theft in ECL’s coal-bearing areas.
Although the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and ECL’s security department are responsible for guarding and patrolling both underground and opencast coal mines in West Bengal and Jharkhand, law and order is maintained by the respective state police departments.
Sactoria, near Asansol, is the headquarters of ECL, while Settalpur serves as the headquarters of the CISF unit of ECL, led by an officer of the rank of senior commandant.