Lok Sabha Question No. 111 (STARRED), answered on 2017-02-09
Subject: Safety in Coal Mines
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: REKHA ARUN VERMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 111

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH  FEBRUARY, 2017

## Safety in Coal Mines

## *111. SHRIMATI REKHA VERMA: SHRI HARI MANJHI:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of guidelines issued by the Government for ensuring safety in coal mines;
- (b) whether accidents have occurred time and again due to large scale vertical extraction of coal during the last three years and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any cap/limit has been fixed for vertical extraction of coal and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of international guidelines, if any, laid down in this regard; and
- (e) whether the Government's policies conform to the said guidelines and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)to(e): As per the information furnished by office of Directorate General of Mines Safety, a statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) in respect of Lok Sabha Question No. 111 for reply on 9 th February, 2017 asked by Shrimati  Rekha Verma, MP and Shri Hari Manjhi MP regarding  Safety in Coal Mines

- (a) For  ensuring  safety  in  coal  mines  of  the  country  adequate  provisions  are  made  under  the Mines Act-1952 and the Rules & Regulations framed there under including several other important safety statutes applicable to coal mines of the country. These safety statutes are administered by the Directorate-General of Mines Safety (DGMS), under the Union Ministry of Labour & Employment (MOLE).

Apart from administering the Mines Act and the subordinate legislations framed there under, DGMS also administers other allied legislation, including relevant part of the Indian Electricity Act - 2003 and Central Electricity Authority (measures related to safety & supply) Regulations - 2010 framed there under (amended up to 2015).

Further, the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) (formerly Department of Explosives)  administers  the  Explosive  Act-  1884  and  the  Explosives  Rules  -  2008  framed  there under, which is also applicable to coal mining industry.

DGMS also issues  technical  and  general  circulars  from  time  to  time  on  various  subjects related to mine safety for improving safety standard of mines. Standing Committee of Parliament on Coal  &  Steel  also  reviews  safety  matters  in  coal  mines.  Apart  from  the  statutory  provisions, recommendations/guidelines of National Safety conferences and Standing Committee on safety in Coal mines are issued and complied at mine level.

- (b)  There  have  been  few  landslides/  slope  failure  in  coal  mines.  The  year  wise  details  of  such occurrences in last three years is enclosed in the Statement.
- (c):  Regulation  98(3)  of  the  Coal  Mines  Regulations,  1957  stipulates  the  precautions  that  shall  be observed to prevent landslides due to extensive vertical mining of coal. As per the provisions of this regulation, the bench slope shall either be kept at an angle of safety not exceeding 45 degrees from the horizontal, or the sides shall be kept benched and the height of any bench shall not exceed three meters and the breadth thereof shall not be less than the height.  However, special permission may be obtained  from  the  DGMS  if  maintenance  of  bench  slope  is  not  reasonably  practical  as  per  the provision.

Vertical  extraction  of  coal  is  not  being  practiced  in  the  opencast  mines  of  CIL  and  its subsidiaries.  All  opencast  mines  of  Coal  India  Ltd  (CIL)  and  its  subsidiaries  are  being  strictly operated as per the stipulated conditions laid down in the DGMS permissions. The height, width and slope angle of Over Burden (OB) benches, coal benches & OB Dump etc. are stipulated depending upon the site specific geo-mining conditions as well as mining method, technology / equipment being engaged for excavation of coal for which prior operating permission is obtained from DGMS.

(d)&(e): Guidelines regarding vertical mining of coal are country specific, based on the geo-technical parameters of the coal and socio-economic conditions.

## With reference to the reply given to part (b) of the question.

| Number of Occurrence of landslide/ slope failure    | Number of Occurrence of landslide/ slope failure   | Number of Occurrence of landslide/ slope failure   | Number of Occurrence of landslide/ slope failure                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Number of Occurrence of landslide/ slope failure                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Name &address of the mine (Region)                  | Name of the owner                                  | Date/ Year of occurrence                           | Cause of landslide/ slope failure                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Casualties                                                                                         |
| Amalgamated Konar Khasmahal OCP , Bokaro, Jharkhand | M/s CCL                                            | 06.03.2016                                         | Top over burden bench of 10m high for a length of 35m collapsed from a height of 28m due to local hidden slip of circular shape.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Nil                                                                                                |
| Khadia OCP, Sonebhadra, UP.                         | M/s NCL                                            | 13.05.2015                                         | Internal dragline overburden dump failed over a length of 130m resulting burying of 2 dozers, 1 excavator &1 rope shovel.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | Nil                                                                                                |
| Bharatpur OCP, Angul, Odisha.                       | M/s MCL                                            | 21.04.2013                                         | 55m high overburden dump side-casted by dragline against coal rib collapsed over a length of 150m causing fall of about 90,000 m 3 rock mass inflicting fatal injury to surface miner operator and serious bodily injury to the supervisor.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 1                                                                                                  |
| Dhanpuri Opencast mine, Shahdol, MP                 | M/s SECL                                           | 01.07.2014                                         | While recovering a submerged dumper from waterlogged OCP, a portion of backfilled overburden measuring 54m (length) X 14 m (width) slided into the water, burying two (2) persons under the muck pile.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 2                                                                                                  |
| Rajmahal OCP mine, Godda, Jharkhand                 | M/s ECL                                            | 29.12.2016                                         | OB dump / bench failure (as per preliminary report) occurred in Rajmahal OCP of ECL while operation of removal of loose OB was going on by means of excavators and tippers. At about 7.30 in the evening a large area measuring 600m x 110m slid down by 30m due to which 12 of the 30 deployed tippers and 05 excavator along with the operators got buried by the sliding OB material. 23 persons are reportedly buried under the OB dump and 18 dead bodies have been recovered till date. Rescue operations were to be suspended due to movement in strata. Further recovery operations were to be suspended due to movement in strata. A detailed plan has been drawn to remove the top overburden through benching. This plan has been put up to experts for vetting. After vetting by experts, approval of Director General of Mines Safety (DGMS) will be taken for resuming the recovery operations. On the basis of enquiry conducted by Internal Safety Organisation of ECL, Manager of Rajmahal Opencast Project has been suspended and charge sheet has been issued to two other Officers namely Assistant Manager of the shift concerned and general shift of the project. Further, enquiry is being conducted by DGMS and a high power committee has also been constituted by Coal India Limited (CIL) to enquire into the accident and actions will be taken against the persons responsible based on the findings of the enquiry. | 18 (23 persons reportedly buried in OB dump slide and only 18 bodies could be recovered till date) |