Lok Sabha Question No. 2638 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-01
Subject: Sand Stowing
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: R.P. MARUTHARAJAA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2638

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2016

## Sand Stowing

## 2638. SHRI R.P. MARUTHARAJAA:

Will the MINISTER OF COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether sand stowing of various underground coal mines in the country has been undertaken and evaluated and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the coal mining companies are liable for not undertaking sand stowing as per stipulations and if so, the details thereof, State-wise, including Tamil Nadu and Odisha and the corrective action taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether possibility of man-made earthquakes has been evaluated on account of improper sand stowing of coal mines particularly in seismic zone-III; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken by the Government in this regard ?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): Sand Stowing is undertaken in an underground mine when surface features are required to  be  protected.    Any  extraction  of  coal  pillars  by  stowing  method  is  done  after  getting permission from Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS). The details of sand stowing during last 3 years state wise are as follows:

Committee)

| Sl. No         | Name of Company / States.   | Qty Approved by CCDAC (m³) (Coal Conservation and Development Advisory Committee)   | Qty Approved by CCDAC (m³) (Coal Conservation and Development Advisory Committee)   | Qty Approved by CCDAC (m³) (Coal Conservation and Development Advisory Committee)   |
|----------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                |                             | 2013-14                                                                             | 2014-15                                                                             | 2015-16                                                                             |
| 1              | West Bengal (ECL)           | 1696598                                                                             | 2082610                                                                             | 1766602                                                                             |
| 2              | Jharkhand (BCCL)            | 110182                                                                              | 103770                                                                              | 117436                                                                              |
| 3              | Jharkhand (CCL)             | 105744                                                                              | 29480                                                                               | 22781                                                                               |
| 4              | Maharastra (WCL)            | 1006619                                                                             | 773225                                                                              | 859754                                                                              |
| 5              | Odisha (MCL)                | 4645                                                                                | 0                                                                                   | 0                                                                                   |
| TOTAL(CIL)     | TOTAL(CIL)                  | 3015241                                                                             | 3059172                                                                             | 2848500                                                                             |
| 6              | Telangana (SCCL)            | 2744951                                                                             | 3093663                                                                             | 2945207                                                                             |
| 7              | Jharkhand (IISCO)           | 73906                                                                               | 115684                                                                              | 128630                                                                              |
| 8              | Jharkhand (TATA)            | 357651                                                                              | 386080                                                                              | 336488                                                                              |
| TOTAL(NON-CIL) | TOTAL(NON-CIL)              | 3176508                                                                             | 3595427                                                                             | 3410325                                                                             |
| GRAND TOTAL    | GRAND TOTAL                 | 6191749                                                                             | 6654599                                                                             | 6258825                                                                             |

- (b): As per regulation 106 of Coal Mines Regulations 1957, protective work / sand stowing measures are required to be done as directed by Chief Inspector  of Mines.  In  case  mine management  fails  to  carry  out  adequate  sand  stowing  and  provide  adequate  protective works within stipulated time, Chief Inspector of Mines may get the work executed by any

other  agency  and  the  cost  thereof,  as  certified  by  Chief  Inspector  of  Mines  shall  be recovered from mine management. Further, Chief Inspector under Sec 64 of the Mines Act 1952 may take action against mine management for non-compliance of the above. Coal India Limited is not working in the State of Tamilnadu. Moreover no mine of CIL was closed due to not undertaking sand stowing. (c)& (d): So far, there is no record of man-made earthquake due to underground mines.

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