Lok Sabha Question No. 1560 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Accidents in Coal Mines
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Shri Rao Rajendra Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1560 ANSWERED ON 04.12.2024

## Accidents in Coal Mines

## 1560. Shri Rao Rajendra Singh:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any data on the number of accidents reported in coal mines during the financial year 2023-24, Statewise;
- (b) the details of funds allocated under Conservation and Safety of coal mines during the same time; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to reduce the occurrence of such accidents at coal mining sites?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a): The details of state-wise accidents in coal mines during the financial year 2023-24 statewise are as below:

| State          | Fatal     | Fatal      | Fatal           | Serious   | Serious         |
|----------------|-----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-----------------|
|                | Accidents | Fatalities | Serious Injured | Accidents | Serious Injured |
| Chhattisgarh   | 4         | 4          | 0               | 11        | 12              |
| Gujarat        | 0         | 0          | 0               | 2         | 2               |
| Jharkhand      | 9         | 10         | 0               | 13        | 15              |
| Madhya Pradesh | 5         | 5          | 0               | 5         | 5               |
| Maharashtra    | 2         | 2          | 0               | 3         | 3               |
| Odisha         | 4         | 6          | 3               | 1         | 1               |
| Tamil Nadu     | 1         | 1          | 0               | 0         | 0               |
| Telangana      | 7         | 7          | 0               | 64        | 64              |
| Uttar Pradesh  | 1         | 1          | 0               | 6         | 10              |
| West Bengal    | 4         | 4          | 3               | 4         | 4               |
| Total          | 37        | 40         | 6               | 109       | 116             |

(b): The funds allocated under Conservation and Safety of Coal Mines during last five years:

| Year    |   Funds allocated (Rs. in Crores) |
|---------|-----------------------------------|
| 2023-24 |                                20 |

(c): All Coal mines are governed by the Mines Act, 1952 and rules and regulations framed thereunder. Mines  Act,  1952  is  administered  by  DGMS  by  way  of  development  of  suitable  legislations,  rules, regulations,  standard  and  guidelines,  inspections,  investigation  of  accidents,  awareness  activities, formulating risk management plans.

Apart from compliance of the statutory provisions under the Mines Act, 1952, the Mines Rules1955,  the  Coal  Mine  Regulations-  2017  and  Bye  Laws  &  Standing  Order  framed  there  under  the following steps are being taken to reduce occurrence of such accident in mines:

1. Preparation and implementation of Site Specific Risk Assessment based Safety Management Plans (SMPs)
2. Preparation and implementation of Principal Hazards Management Plans (PHMPs)
3. Formulation and compliance of Site-specific Risk Assessment based Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
4. Conducting Safety Audit of mines through multi-disciplinary Safety Audit teams.
5. Adoption of the state-of-the art mechanism for Strata Management
6. Monitoring of mine environment
7. Specific Safety measures for OC mines, such as:
- Use of eco-friendly Surface Miners for blast free safe mining.
- Formulation and implementation of Mine-specific Traffic Rules.
- Training on Simulators to HEMM operators.
- Dumpers fitted with Proximity Warning Devices, Rear view mirrors and camera, Audio-Visual Alarm (AVA), Automatic Fire Detection & Suppression system etc.
- Ergonomically designed seats & AC Cabins for operators' comfort.
- GPS based Operator Independent Truck Dispatch System (OITDS) and Geo-fencing in some large OCPs for tracking movement of HEMMs inside OC mine.
- Lighting arrangement using high mast towers for increasing level of illumination.
8. Specific safety measures for Underground coal mines, such as:
- Elimination of basket loading by introducing semi mechanization with LHDs and SDLs.
- Replaced the cement capsules with resin capsules for effective roof control system with bolting by pneumatic /hydraulic roof bolting system
- Wherever geology permits, Continuous Miner technology is adopted
- Emergency Response & Evacuation Plans (ER & EP) prepared as per Regulation 252 of CMR 2017
- Air chilling plant to improve underground mine environment.
- Cordless cap lamps have been procured for the use by rescue personnel.
9. Training on Mine Safety:
- Initial and Refresher training & On-the-Job Training as per statute.
- Training on Simulators to HEMM operators.
- Skill up-gradation of frontline mine officials on continual basis on various topics.
- Sensitization of all employees including Members of Safety Committees and contractual workmen on a regular basis.
- Various training programmes for enhancement of knowledge of mine executives.
- Training on Risk Management by SIMTARS accredited executives

## 10. Mine Safety Inspection:

- Round-the-clock  Supervision  of  all  mining  operations  by  adequate  number  of  competent  & statutory Supervisors and mine Officials.
- Regular Inspection by Workmen Inspectors appointed in each mine.
- Surprise back shift mine Inspections by mine and area level officials.
- Regular mine Inspection by officials of the Internal Safety Organization
- Periodic mine Inspections by senior officials.

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