Lok Sabha Question No. 744 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-04
Subject: Coal Mine Safety Technology
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Shri Arvind Dharmapuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 744 ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026

## Coal Mine Safety Technology

744.  Shri Arvind Dharmapuri:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) the data on coal mining accidents, fatalities and compliance actions during the last five years, year-wise;
- (b) the status of mine safety technology deployment;
- (c) the expenditure on rehabilitation and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in coal mine districts; and
- (d)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  sustainable  mining,  including  land reclamation and livelihood support?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &  (b):  Number  of  coal  mining  accidents  and fatalities  during  2021-2025  are  as follows:-
* Data of year 2025 is provisional.

|   Year |   No of Fatal Accidents | Fatalities   |
|--------|-------------------------|--------------|
|     43 |                      51 | 2021         |
|     24 |                      28 | 2022         |
|     38 |                      41 | 2023         |
|     38 |                      49 | 2024         |
|     44 |                      54 | 2025*        |

Directorate  General  of  Mines  Safety  (DGMS)  in  the  Ministry  of  Labour  and Employment, examines the causes of accidents and issues circular for compliance by the coal companies.

The following technologies are deployed for safety in coal mines:

1. Adoption of blast-free and eco-friendly  mining  methods , including Continuous  Miners  (underground mines),  Surface  Miners  &  Vertical-Rippers (Opencast mines), and High Wall Mining, for safer and cleaner operations.
2. Mechanised  strata  control  systems ,  comprising  advanced  roof  drilling machines  such  as  Quad  bolter,  Twin  Bolter  and  Universal  Drilling  Machine (UDM), resin capsule for anchoring roof bolting, and advanced strata monitoring instrumentation.
3. Advanced mine air analysis using  gas  chromatographs (GC) for improved accuracy.
4. Real-time mine air monitoring through Environment Tele-Monitoring System (ETMS) and Local Methane Detectors in selected UG mines.
5. Slope monitoring systems deployed in opencast mines to assess dump and bench stability.
6. Enhanced transport safety , through GPS-enabled Vehicle Tracking Systems (VTS),  Operator  Independent  Truck  Dispatch  Systems  (OITDS),  and  geofencing.
7. Real-time safety surveillance via video-analytics-based Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs).
8. Modern training , including simulator-based training for HEMM operators and VR-based safety training.
9. Advanced dust suppression measures ,  such  as  fog  cannons,  mist  spray systems, wheel washing, and mechanical sweepers.
10. (c): The expenditure on rehabilitation and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in coal mine districts by Coal PSUs is placed at Annexure-I.
11. (d): The Government has taken several steps for sustainable mining, including land reclamation and livelihood support. The major steps include:
1. Blast-Free, Eco-Friendly Safe Mining Technologies :  Surface miners have been deployed in  opencast mines; advanced  mass production  technologies (MPT) deployed such as Continuous Miners in underground (UG) mines; and High  Wall  Mining  in  mines  to  ensure  safer,  cleaner,  and  more  efficient operations.
2. Establishment of First Mile Connectivity: Setting up of First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects to ensure mechanisation of coal transportation and rake loading operations, leading to environment-friendly operations with higher efficiency.
3. Bio-Reclamation/  Plantation: Progressive  as  well  as  final  mine  closure activities like stabilisation of Overburden dumps, backfilling of de-coaled areas, extensive plantation on OB dumps and vacant lands with native plant species for eco-restoration of mined out areas.
4. Development of Eco-Parks: Development of eco-parks in reclaimed mining areas for land restoration and sustainable development initiatives.
5. Development of water bodies : Use of water body in the final mine void for irrigation, pisciculture and ground water stabilisation and also for domestic use after treatment.
6. Skill  Development  and  Livelihood  Programmes :  Skill  development  and livelihood  enhancement  programmes  are  regularly  undertaken  for  project affected  families.  Beneficiaries  are  trained  in  handicrafts,   poultry  farming, mushroom cultivation, garment and apparel making, solar system installation and maintenance, welding and fabrication, food & beverage steward training, mobile repair etc.

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## Coal India Limited (CIL)

The details of expenditure on rehabilitation by CIL and its subsidiaries during the last five years in coal mine districts are mentioned below.

| Year            |   Expenditure on rehabilitation (₹ Crore) |
|-----------------|-------------------------------------------|
| 2020-21         |                                   47.672  |
| 2021-22         |                                   26.396  |
| 2022-23         |                                   69.036  |
| 2023-24         |                                  119.266  |
| 2024-25         |                                   21.9612 |
| CIL Grand Total |                                  284.331  |

Expenditure on CSR : CSR expenditure in coal mine districts of subsidiaries of CIL during the last five financial years (2020-21 to 2024-25) is furnished below:-

| S. No.   | State               | District                                                     |   CSR Expenditure during FY 20-21 to 24-25 (₹ Crores) |
|----------|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Assam               | Tinsukia                                                     |                                                  3.01 |
|          | TOTAL - Assam       |                                                              |                                                  3.01 |
| 2        | Chattisgarh         | Balrampur - Ramanujganj                                      |                                                  4.17 |
| 3        | Chattisgarh         | Bilaspur                                                     |                                                 33.01 |
| 4        | Chattisgarh         | Korba                                                        |                                                 41.18 |
| 5        | Chattisgarh         | Korea                                                        |                                                  4.24 |
| 6        | Chattisgarh         | Manendragarh-Chirimiri- Bharatpur                            |                                                  0    |
| 7        | Chattisgarh         | Raigarh                                                      |                                                 20.91 |
| 8        | Chattisgarh         | Surajpur                                                     |                                                  6.35 |
| 9        | Chattisgarh         | Surguja                                                      |                                                  8.31 |
| 10       | Chattisgarh         | Expenditure on projects running in multiple mining districts |                                                 28.42 |
|          | TOTAL - Chattisgarh |                                                              |                                                146.59 |
| 11       | Jharkhand           | Bokaro                                                       |                                                 20.39 |
| 12       | Jharkhand           | Chatra                                                       |                                                 27.53 |
| 13       | Jharkhand           | Deoghar                                                      |                                                  5.01 |
| 14       | Jharkhand           | Dhanbad                                                      |                                                 53.66 |
| 15       | Jharkhand           | Giridih                                                      |                                                  6.75 |
| 16       | Jharkhand           | Godda                                                        |                                                 16.28 |
| 17       | Jharkhand           | Hazaribagh                                                   |                                                 13.78 |
| 18       | Jharkhand           | Latehar                                                      |                                                 10.44 |

## Annexure-I

| 19   | Jharkhand              | Ramgarh                                                      |   13.33 |
|------|------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|---------|
| 20   | Jharkhand              | Ranchi                                                       |   56.58 |
| 21   | Jharkhand              | Pakur                                                        |    0    |
| 22   | Jharkhand              | Palamu                                                       |    4.86 |
| 23   | Jharkhand              | Expenditure on projects running in multiple mining districts |   68.37 |
|      | TOTAL - Jharkhand      |                                                              |  296.98 |
| 24   | Madhya Pradesh         | Anuppur                                                      |   14.87 |
| 25   | Madhya Pradesh         | Betul                                                        |    6.32 |
| 26   | Madhya Pradesh         | Chhindwara                                                   |    9.47 |
| 27   | Madhya Pradesh         | Shahdol                                                      |    2.7  |
| 28   | Madhya Pradesh         | Singrauli                                                    |  474.31 |
| 29   | Madhya Pradesh         | Umaria                                                       |    4.28 |
| 30   | Madhya Pradesh         | Expenditure on projects running in multiple mining districts |    0.08 |
|      | TOTAL - Madhya Pradesh |                                                              |  512.03 |
| 31   | Maharashtra            | Chandrapur                                                   |   26.16 |
| 32   | Maharashtra            | Nagpur                                                       |   89.98 |
| 33   | Maharashtra            | Yavatmal                                                     |    2.07 |
| 34   | Maharashtra            | Expenditure on projects running in multiple mining districts |    0    |
|      | TOTAL - Maharashtra    |                                                              |  118.21 |
| 35   | Odisha                 | Angul                                                        |  306.37 |
| 36   | Odisha                 | Jharsuguda                                                   |  146.2  |
| 37   | Odisha                 | Sundargarh                                                   |  100.68 |
| 38   | Odisha                 | Sambalpur                                                    |   96.88 |
| 39   | Odisha                 | Expenditure on projects running in multiple mining districts |    0    |
|      | TOTAL - Odisha         |                                                              |  650.13 |
| 40   | Uttar Pradesh          | Sonbhadra                                                    |  152.91 |
|      | TOTAL - Uttar Pradesh  |                                                              |  152.91 |
| 41   | West Bengal            | Bankura                                                      |    0    |
| 42   | West Bengal            | North 24 Parganas                                            |    5.41 |
| 43   | West Bengal            | Paschim Bardhaman                                            |   18.69 |
| 44   | West Bengal            | Purulia                                                      |    1.13 |
| 45   | West Bengal            | Expenditure on projects running in multiple mining districts |    2.88 |
|      | TOTAL - West Bengal    |                                                              |   28.11 |

| 46                | TOTAL - Expenditure on projects running in multiple mining districts   |    2.10 |
|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|
| GRAND TOTAL - CIL | GRAND TOTAL - CIL                                                      | 1910.07 |

## Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL)

The expenditure on rehabilitation in NLCIL Mines is as follows:

- In respect of lands acquired for projects at Neyveli region, the expenditure on R&R provided by NLCIL upto 25.01.2026 (under NRRP-2007& Current NLCIL's R&R Policy as per RFCTLARR Act, 2013) is furnished in the following table.
- Further, in NLCIL's Talabira II & III OCP, the total expenditure towards rehabilitation of Sambalpur District is ₹61.81 Cr.

|    | S.No.Nature of R&R benefits                                                                                           | Amount                             |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
|  1 | Ex-gratia payment made towards Resettlement Allowance                                                                 | Rs 348.23 Lakhs                    |
|  2 | Ex-gratia payment made for house structures on Government Lands                                                       | Rs 493.82 Lakhs                    |
|  3 | Cost of construction in lieu of house                                                                                 | Rs. 3750 Lakhs                     |
|  4 | Transportation, Maintenance and Subsistence allowance paid                                                            | Rs 638.32 Lakhs                    |
|  5 | Cattle Shed, Petty shop Allowance paid                                                                                | Rs 3.30 Lakhs                      |
|  6 | Expenditure for development of Resettlement Centres.                                                                  | Rs.1364.38 Lakhs                   |
|  7 | Recurring expenditure including current consumption for maintenance, amenities and up-keeping of Resettlement Centres | Rs 300.00 Lakhs per annum (approx) |
|  8 | One time rehabilitation grants in lieu of employment (1457 persons)                                                   | Rs. 3989 Lakhs                     |

CSR expenditure by NLCIL in coal mine districts up to January 2026 In FY 2025-26, is as under:

| Coal Mine State/District       |   Expenditure (up to January 26) (Rs in Crore) |
|--------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu)         |                                          16.42 |
| Bikaner (Rajasthan)            |                                           2.81 |
| Sambalpur, Jharsuguda (Odisha) |                                           1.84 |
| Total                          |                                          21.07 |

## The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL)

CSR expenditure of SCCL over the last three years is as follows:

|   S. No.Financial YearCSR budget | sanctioned (₹)   | sanctioned (₹)   |
|----------------------------------|------------------|------------------|
|                                1 | 2022-23          | 43.05 Cr         |
|                                2 | 2023-24          | 38.08 Cr         |
|                                3 | 2024-25          | 107.88 Cr        |

For the FY 2025-26, the approved CSR budget is Rs. 156 Crs.

Major CSR works by SCCL during the FY 2025-26 are as follows:

- o Financial assistance to UPSC-cleared Civil Services aspirants - ₹2.02 Cr
- Army recruitment rally at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Hanumakonda - ₹0.20 Cr
- Organising Job Mela at 7 locations - Rs. 1.48 Cr.
- Material/Equipment procurement & cosmetology training at Mandamarri ₹0.07 Cr
- Infrastructure facilities at Govt Junior College, Govt High School & CHC, Luxettipet (Mancherial) - ₹2.00 Cr
- Infrastructure development & renovation of Govt BC Girls Hostel, Jaipur ₹0.1645 Cr
- De-silting of major nallas (Kattuvagu&Motlavagu) - Manuguru Municipality ₹0.83 Cr
- Creation of new water bodies in Manuguru Area - ₹0.413 Cr
- De-silting of 3 water bodies in Samithi Singaram, Thirlapuram&Besthagudem villages - Manuguru Area - ₹1.13 Cr
- Desilting of Kodipunjulavagu - Manuguru Area - ₹0.547 Cr
- Rejuvenation of water bodies in Jaipur Mandal near STPP - ₹0.508 Cr
- Infrastructure development in Penagadapa village near Kothagudem - ₹1.555 Cr
- Rural development works - Wyra Constituency - ₹2.00 Cr
- Rural development works - Sathupalli Constituency - ₹2.00 Cr
- Rural development projects at Thummalapalli village (Penuballi Mandal) ₹0.92 Cr
- Central lighting works - Bhupalpalli Constituency - ₹1.50 Cr
- Rural development works - Bhupalapalli Constituency - ₹2.00 Cr
- Rural development works - Asifabad Constituency - ₹2.00 Cr
- Development works in Chhendipada village of Naini Area - ₹5.00 Cr
- *****