The Hindu Business Line : `Safety norms being ignored at mines'

The mining mishap that occurred inside the Nagda colliery at Bhatdih in Jharkhand on Wednesday has once again raised the question of safety in domestic mines. Safety experts say that the accident, which is feared to have caused the death of 54 miners trapped inside, could have been avoided if the statutory safety rules for underground mines were strictly followed.

Incidentally, leaders of all Central trade unions operating in the state-owned coal companies said that this sort of accidents are bound to occur again if the mining authorities do not follow stipulated safety guidelines. Almost all unions have repeatedly lamented the fact that "in some of the mines, managers have not gone down inside the mine for more than a year."

An official note incorporating the union leaders' comments on the safety aspects in coal mining has quoted trade union leaders saying that some of the managers, project officers, general managers and even higher officials were in the habit of falsely recording their attendance in the requisite Form-C (the register meant for recording attendance of those who make underground visits).

They alleged that chief general managers, project officers/managers do not visit the pit tops, in case of underground and open cast mines (OCP), at the beginning of shifts, which is generally 8 a.m. in the underground mines and 6 a.m. in OCPs.

The union leaders alleged that instead of giving exemplary punishment in case of mine accidents where mine officials are directly responsible, officials are let off. As a consequence, negligence and complacency get compounded and result in disasters. They also cited many cases of accidents where no action was taken against officials responsible.

More Stories on : Coal | Accidents | Mining & Quarrying

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