Coal mines operated by private compaines henceforth will have to follow stringent safety parameters. The Centre, to monitor safety parameters of coal mines, has set up a sub-committee headed by the coal ministry director (technical).
Coal ministry sources told FE that the committee is likely to visit coal and lignite mines of private companies in case of specific complaints received relating to mine safety and will interact on with the management, mine officials and representatives of workers.
The panel also consists representatives from directorate general of mines safety (DGMS), Coal India Ltd’s (CIL) chief general manager (safety) and a representative each from trade unions?Intuc, BMS and Citu.
Sources said that the sub-committee has been formed as per the decision taken at the 28th meeting of standing committee on safety in coal mines.
?What is important is to respond to a emergency situation in a systematic manner without getting panicky so that further losses are avoided. The companies operating coal mines can develop a suitable emergency response mechanism specific to the cases of inundation, fires, explosions and major collapse of slides,? sources said.
These companies will also have to ensure that persons handling the rescue system are exposed to state of the art technologies available.
Labour ministry to organise mine safety meet
The labour ministry will organise an all-India conference on ?Safety in Mines? on November 26-27 to discuss various issues such as safety management system, mechanisation of coal mines with special reference to improvement of safety standards and identification of appropriate technologies. The conference will also review strata control measures in coal mines. The meet will be attended by ministers of Central and state governments and employer and worker organisations.