Lok Sabha Question No. 5374 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-06
Subject: Safety Devices in Mines
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: MEENAKASHI LEKHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5374 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH  APRIL, 2017

'Safety Devices in Mines'

## 5374.  SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether mines are inspected regularly for compliance of safety regulations and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the details of safety devices to be mandatorily installed in mines?

## ANSWER

## THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  POWER,  COAL, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND MINES (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

( a): The issues relating to safety of mines are regulated through the provisions of the Mines Act, 1952 which is administered by the Ministry of Labour & Employment and regulated for compliance  by  the  Director  General  of  Mines  Safety  (DGMS).  As  per  the  information received  from  Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment/DGMS,  the  officers  of  DGMS  make periodic inspections of all types of mines, to ensure that mining operations are carried out in accordance with the legal provisions to ensure safety of mining workers. During inspection of mines, if the workings or the environment are found to be unsafe and dangerous from the point of view of safety of workers; violation letters, notices or prohibitory orders are immediately issued to the management to take necessary steps for improvement. Unless the conditions are improved  as  recorded  through  inspections,  the  orders  are  not  vacated  and  persons  are  not allowed  to  be  deployed  in  such  dangerous  conditions.  DGMS  after  proper  enquiry  also launches prosecutions against the mines which violate the rules and regulations of Mines Act, 1952.  The  number  of  inspection/enquiries  made  during  last  three  years  and  current  year  in India is given below:

| Number of Inspections and Enquiries made by DGMS during 2014-2017*   | Number of Inspections and Enquiries made by DGMS during 2014-2017*   | Number of Inspections and Enquiries made by DGMS during 2014-2017*   | Number of Inspections and Enquiries made by DGMS during 2014-2017*   | Number of Inspections and Enquiries made by DGMS during 2014-2017*   | Number of Inspections and Enquiries made by DGMS during 2014-2017*   | Number of Inspections and Enquiries made by DGMS during 2014-2017*   | Number of Inspections and Enquiries made by DGMS during 2014-2017*   | Number of Inspections and Enquiries made by DGMS during 2014-2017*   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                                                 | Inspections                                                          | Inspections                                                          | Inspections                                                          | Inspections                                                          | Enquiries                                                            | Enquiries                                                            | Enquiries                                                            | Enquiries                                                            |
| Year                                                                 | Coal                                                                 | Metal                                                                | Oil                                                                  | Total                                                                | Coal                                                                 | Metal                                                                | Oil                                                                  | Total                                                                |
| 2014                                                                 | 4664                                                                 | 4694                                                                 | 588                                                                  | 9946                                                                 | 1035                                                                 | 540                                                                  | 111                                                                  | 1686                                                                 |
| 2015                                                                 | 6047                                                                 | 5889                                                                 | 786                                                                  | 12722                                                                | 1280                                                                 | 653                                                                  | 36                                                                   | 1969                                                                 |
| 2016                                                                 | 4634                                                                 | 7766                                                                 | 638                                                                  | 13038                                                                | 1165                                                                 | 586                                                                  | 96                                                                   | 1847                                                                 |
| 2017*                                                                | 774                                                                  | 996                                                                  | 98                                                                   | 1868                                                                 | 281                                                                  | 106                                                                  | 1                                                                    | 388                                                                  |

The number of improvement notices & prohibitory orders issued by DGMS during last three years and current year is given below:-

Number of Improvement Notices and Prohibitory Orders issued by DGMS during 20142017*

| Year   | Coal Mines     | Coal Mines    | Non-Coal Mines   | Non-Coal Mines   |
|--------|----------------|---------------|------------------|------------------|
| Year   | Notices Issued | Orders Issued | Notices Issued   | Orders Issued    |
| 2014   | 127            | 46            | 449              | 670              |
| 2015   | 106            | 42            | 88               | 113              |
| 2016   | 23             | 16            | 247              | 232              |
| 2017*  | 9              | 37            | 68               | 93               |

The  number  of  prosecution  launched  by  DGMS  against  the  public  and  private  sector companies during last three years and current year is given below:

| Number of prosecutions launched byDGMS during 2014-2017*   | Number of prosecutions launched byDGMS during 2014-2017*   | Number of prosecutions launched byDGMS during 2014-2017*   | Number of prosecutions launched byDGMS during 2014-2017*   |
|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                                       | Public Sector                                              | Private Sector                                             | Total                                                      |
| 2014                                                       | 14                                                         | 20                                                         | 34                                                         |
| 2015                                                       | 9                                                          | 20                                                         | 29                                                         |
| 2016                                                       | 4                                                          | 13                                                         | 17                                                         |
| 2017*                                                      | --                                                         | --                                                         | --                                                         |

- (b): As reported by Ministry of Labour & Employment, Director General of Mines Safety, the details of the safety devices to be mandatorily installed at the mines is stipulated under the provisions of (i) The Coal Mines Regulations, 1957;  The Metalliferous Mines Regulations, 1961; and The Oil Mines Regulations, 1984 which are subordinate legislations of the Mines Act, 1952 and (ii) The Central Electricity Authority (Measures Relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2010 which is subordinate legislation under the Electricity Act, 2003.