Yashwant Sinha seeks probe into underground mines fire

Yashwant Sinha, former Union finance minister and currently a Member of Parliament, has demanded judicial probe by a retired high court judge to investigate the reasons behind the underground fire blazing for the last three months on the National Highway (NH)-33.

Sinha has written a letter to the Union minister of state (independent charge), Sriprakash Jaiswal insisting that the inquiry should fix the responsibility on those guilty of neglect, recommend exemplary punishment for them and suggest steps for preventing such incidents in future.

The former Union minister said that the current blaze could convert the area into another Jharia, if it was not brought under control immediately.

Sinha wanted to know from the Union coal minister when the fire would be brought under control.

He said that a permanent diversion of the highway should be constructed at a safe zone close to the caved road in the Kuju fire-hit area near NH-33 on Ranchi-Patna highway in order to restore traffic.

Sinha pointed out that the safety of the railway line from Koderma to Ranchi via Hazaribag, which is under construction, should be ensured as it passes through the fire zone area.

Sinha in his letter to the Union coal minister said, "During my visit to Hazaribag, I spoke to the Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) managing director and officials of the district administration regarding the issue. At the same time, I also visited the site and held discussions with the CCL officials there and those from the district administration. But I am sorry to say that the alacrity with which the underground fire should have been tackled is missing. For days, no effective action was taken. Even at present, there appears to be a lack of seriousness in the matter."

He mentioned his discussions with the locals which revealed that accidents could happen anytime.

Yet the authorities did nothing and are now trying to throw the blame on everyone else except themselves, Sinha said.