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Rajya Sabha
According to the Directorate General of Mines Safety, during January-November 2004, 131 fatal accidents occurred in the mines sector with 146 deaths and 16 persons seriously injured. 138 fatal accidents occurred in the year 2003. 179 people died and 28 people were seriously injured in these accidents.
Adequate provision already exist in the Mines Act, 1952 and its subordinate legislations for safety of the persons employed in mines and keeping the mine-environment pollution free. Further, such safety legislations are kept under constant review and amended from time to time to keep pace with time. The Government through Directorate General of Mines Safety have promoted a three-pronged initiative viz; developmental, promotional and advisory role in the safety management. Some of such initiatives are as follows:
Issue of guidelines for safer operations in identified thrust areas through circulars.
Promoting participation of workers in safety management.
Promoting self regulation by management.
Tri-partite and Bi-partite review of safety status at various levels.
Observance of safety week and safety campaigns.
Generating safety awareness and information dissemination.
National Conference on Safety in Mines.
National Safety Awards.
Interactions at different forums with a view to promote safety, health and welfare of persons employed in mines.
Introduction to the concept of Risk Assessment, preparation of Safety Management Plan and development of Emergency Response System.
Facilitating introduction of new technology in mining with low potential risk.
Technology of using lasers to replace explosives in CIL mines is at Research & Development stage. A coal research project is working by using laser based equipment for better utilisation of explosive energy and to control blast damage to the structures in and around opencast projects.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Dr. Dasari Narayana Rao in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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