Lok Sabha Question No. 826 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Conservation and Safety of Coal Mines
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 826 ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## Conservation and Safety of Coal Mines

## 826. ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of accidents reported in coal mines since 2019, year and State-wise;
- (b) the steps taken to reduce the occurrence of such accidents at coal mining sites; and
- (c) the details of funds allocated under Conservation and Safety of coal mines during the last five years?

## ANSWER

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

(a): The details of accidents from 2019 to 2023 is enclosed at Annexure.

(b): Coal mines under Ministry of Coal 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:
8.  Use of eco-friendly Surface Miners for blast free safe mining.
9.  Formulation and implementation of Mine-specific Traffic Rules.
10.  Training on Simulators to HEMM operators.
11.  Dumpers fitted with Proximity Warning Devices, Rear view mirrors and camera, Audio-Visual Alarm (AVA), Automatic Fire Detection & Suppression system etc.
12.  Ergonomically designed seats & AC Cabins for operators' comfort.
13.  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. 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

## 9. 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.

## (c): The details of funds allocated under Conservation and Safety of coal mines:

| Year    |   Funds allocated (Rs. In Crore) |
|---------|----------------------------------|
| 2019-20 |                              4   |
| 2020-21 |                              6   |
| 2021-22 |                              4.5 |
| 2022-23 |                              4   |
| 2023-24 |                             20   |

*****

## The details of accidents from 2019 to 2023:

| State          | Fatal Accidents   | Fatal Accidents   | Fatal Accidents   | Fatal Accidents   | Fatal Accidents   | Serious Accidents   | Serious Accidents   | Serious Accidents   |   Serious Accidents | Serious Accidents   |
|----------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
| State          | 2019              | 2020              | 2021              | 2022              | 2023              | 2019                | 2020                | 2021                |                2022 | 2023                |
| Chhattisgarh   | 7                 | 12                | 5                 | 4                 | 3                 | 10                  | 5                   | 10                  |                  19 | 12                  |
| Gujarat        | -                 | -                 | -                 | -                 | -                 | -                   | 1                   | -                   |                   1 | 2                   |
| Jharkhand      | 11                | 8                 | 7                 | 7                 | 9                 | 7                   | 11                  | 15                  |                  16 | 13                  |
| Madhya Pradesh | 3                 | 4                 | 7                 | 6                 | 4                 | 8                   | 5                   | 15                  |                  18 | 7                   |
| Maharashtra    | 3                 | 4                 | 4                 | 0                 | 3                 | 12                  | 4                   | 5                   |                   9 | 2                   |
| Orissa         | 7                 | 5                 | 2                 | 0                 | 6                 | 2                   | 2                   | 3                   |                   4 | 1                   |
| Rajasthan      | 1                 | -                 | -                 | 0                 | -                 | 0                   | -                   | -                   |                   1 | -                   |
| Telangana      | 8                 | 9                 | 7                 | 5                 | 6                 | 143                 | 79                  | 126                 |                 102 | 65                  |
| Tamil Nadu     | 1                 | -                 | 0                 | 0                 | 1                 | 0                   | -                   | 1                   |                   1 | -                   |
| Uttar Pradesh  | 2                 | -                 | 1                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                   | 2                   | 1                   |                   1 | 6                   |
| West Bengal    | 8                 | 6                 | 10                | 2                 | 5                 | 11                  | 8                   | 10                  |                   9 | 4                   |
| Total          | 51                | 48                | 43                | 24                | 37                | 193                 | 117                 | 186                 |                 181 | 112                 |

## ANNEXURE