Lok Sabha Question No. 1483 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Fire Accidents in Coal Mines
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: DNV Senthilkumar. S., Chandra Prakash Choudhary, Shrirang Appa Barne, Vinayak Bhaurao Raut, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1483 TO BE ANSWERED ON  27.11.2019

## Fire Accidents in Coal Mines

1483.  DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH CHOUDHARY SHRI SHRIRANG APPABARNE SHRI VINAYAK RAUT DR. HEENA GAVIT:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government's attention is drawn to repeated fire accidents in various coal mines;
- (b)  if  so,  the  number  of  fire  accidents  that  occurred  in  various  coal  mines  in  the  country particularly  Maharashtra,  Tamil  Nadu  and  Jharkhand  along  with  the  loss  of  life  and  property caused during each of the last five years and the current year, company and State-wise;
- (c) the reasons for repeated fire accidents;
- (d) whether the Government has conducted any investigation in this regard and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government against the guilty persons, company-wise till date;
- (e)  the  funds  allocated  and  spent  for  ensuring  the  safety  and  security  of  workers  in  these  coal mines during the said  period,  company-wise along  with  the  funds  released  to  compensate  the victim of accidents during the last three years, company-wise; and
- (f) the steps taken by the Government to check the recurrence of such accidents in future?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF  PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a) & (b): There was no repeated fire accidents occurred in mines of CIL and its subsidiaries and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) during the last five years. However, there were some fire accidents that occurred in the mines of NCL and BCCL in last five years and current year.

Company-wise and state-wise the number of fire accidents that occurred in various coal mines in last five years are as under.

| Company                        | Date of fire accident                                                      | Mine                                                                       | State                                                                      |
|--------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| ECL, CCL, WCL, SECL, MCL, SCCL | No fire accidents causing loss of life and property due to fire accidents. | No fire accidents causing loss of life and property due to fire accidents. | No fire accidents causing loss of life and property due to fire accidents. |
| BCCL                           | 19.08.2015                                                                 | Rajapur OCP                                                                | Jharkhand                                                                  |
| NCL                            | 02.06.2016                                                                 | Khadia OCP                                                                 | UP                                                                         |
| NCL                            | 05.05.2018                                                                 | Dudhichua OCP                                                              | MP                                                                         |

( c ):  The reasons of fire accidents as mentioned in reply (b) are as under:

| Company   | Date of fire accident   | Mine          | State     | Reasons of fire                                                                          | Loss of life& properties   |
|-----------|-------------------------|---------------|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|
| BCCL      | 19.08.2015              | Rajapur OCP   | Jharkhand | One shovel operator got burn injury while handling fiery coal seam                       | 1 fatality                 |
| NCL       | 02.06.2016              | Khadia OCP    | UP        | While removing airlock from diesel circuit got burn injuries in diesel tank of tipper. 1 | fatality                   |
| NCL       | 05.05.2018              | Dudhichua OCP | MP        | Sustained burn injuries due to accidental bursting of oxygen cylinder at CHP. 1          | fatality                   |

(d): Investigations done in this regard is mentioned below:

BCCL: Investigation was done by ISO and recommended for strict compliance with SOPs for dealing fire. Further, following action was taken by BCCL against the persons held responsible for the above fire accident.

- i. Sri S.M. Aslam, Mgr (Exv.)                 - warning letter issued.
- ii. Sri J.K. Mishra, Sr. Mgr (Min.)             -  warning letter issued.
- iii. Sri Hari Shankar  Nonia, Foreman Incharge (Elec.) - warning letter issued.
- iv. Sri Suresh  Kumar Munda,  Sr. Mech (Maintenance)   - warning letter issued.

NCL: The enquiry has been conducted by Internal Safety Organization (ISO) and DGMS officials. The details are provided below:

|   SN | Particulars Findings                                                                                                    | Recommendations                                                                                                                                                                 | Action taken person held responsible                                    |
|------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    1 | Fatal accident of Sri Md. Firoz Ansari dated 02.06.2016 Wrong practice of using wiper motor pump with battery of tipper | (1) Framing and implementation of SOP of all activities of outsourcing works. (2) Conducting Safety talks for increasing awareness of safe practices among workmen.             |  Demotion to lower post - 2 persons  Imposition of Censure - 1 person |
|    2 | Fatal accident of Sri Lalman Gupta, Dated 05.05.2018 Bursting oxygen due to run of dozer on cylinder.                   | of cylinder over the (1) Proper housekeeping. (2) Work to be carried out under constant supervision of a competent supervisor. (3) Proper communication of work to the workmen. |  One increment stopped - 3 persons  Memo issued - 1 person            |

(e): As  informed  by  coal  companies,  funds  allocated  and  spent  for  ensuring  the  safety  and security of workers in these coal mines company wise during last 3 years is as follows:

( All figures in lakh rupees )

| Company        | Year 2016-17    | Year 2016-17   | Year 2017-18    | Year 2017-18   | Year 2018-19    | Year 2018-19   |
|----------------|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|----------------|
| Company        | Funds allocated | Utilized       | Funds allocated | Utilized       | Funds allocated | Utilized       |
| ECL            | 22304           | 18078          | 22605           | 17092          | 20214           | 13933          |
| BCCL           | 23474           | 18628          | 21929           | 18016          | 19478           | 9219           |
| CCL            | 2250            | 1924           | 2700            | 2141           | 1764            | 146            |
| NCL            | 6632            | 5780           | 9795            | 9565           | 11300           | 2538           |
| WCL            | 10891           | 10511          | 9000            | 9065           | 8400            | 5848           |
| SECL           | 21500           | 19271          | 19751           | 17735          | 18100           | 14523          |
| MCL            | 6095            | 6015           | 6649            | 6415           | 6774            | 5326           |
| SCCL (capital) | 1069            | 145            | 1365            | 1133           | 961             | 1034           |

Funds released for compensation of the said fire accidents are as under:

BCCL: Compensation of Rs 639200 was paid to the next of kin of victim of Rajapur OC accident.

## NCL: Compensation details:

| Project       | Date of Accident   | Name of Deceased                   | Compensation   |
|---------------|--------------------|------------------------------------|----------------|
| Khadia (UP)   | 02.06.2016         | Sri Md. Firoz Ansari, Cont. worker | Rs. 8,67,640   |
| Dudhichua (UP | 05.05.2018         | Sri Lalman Gupta, Fitter (Cat-VI)  | Rs. 4,98,800   |

## (f): The following steps are taken to prevent fire accident in mines:

-  Compliance of statutory provisions.
-  Preparation and Implementation of SMPs (Safety Management Plans)
-  Precautionary measures are being taken to plan extraction of panels within incubation period, sectionalization of old workings, inert gas flushing, pressure balancing etc.
-  Safety audit of the mines are being conducted.
-  Apparatus for detecting of fire/ symptom of fire are provided in all underground mines.
-  Preparation and implementation of Principal Hazards Management Plans (PHMPs) along with Trigger Action Response Plan (TARP).

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