Shillong, Jan 20: With the rising cases of coal mine mishap in the state of Meghalaya, the state Government is working on mechanism to stop such mishap.
The labour Minister however, has admitted that the district administrations and the police at times find it difficult to identify the miners as she maintained that the department is working out a mechanism which can help in the identification of labourers and even their antecedents.
She also asserted that the mine owners they never declare anything about the miners and from where they are getting this labour force.
Many labourers have died in the coal mines of East jaintia Hills in the past few months due to various reasons
According to her, every mine owners has to declare their asset and every excavation of the coal mines must be reported to the Government.
However, it is true that one of the bottlenecks in government monitoring the safety level of the coal mines in Jaintia hills is because the coal pits are private properties and not nationalised where the safety measures can be imposed strictly.
Such incidents of mine mishaps are no stranger to Meghalaya where several lives have been lost inside the pitch-dark coal mines of Jaintia hills, West Khasi Hills and Garo hills.
Coal is unscientifically mined in the three regions. In the current system of coal mining in these areas, known as the rat-hole method, labourers go underground to extract coal with locally available equipment.
Lyngdoh pointed out that the Labour officers are continuously keeping a tab and conducting surprise raids in coal mines to put in safety measures in the coal mines that has claimed several lives so far.
In December last only as many as 11 coal miners in East Jaintia Hills were killed in accidents in the coal mines that lacks any safety measures.
The Meghalaya Mines and Minerals Policy, 2012 states that adoption of modern methods of mining “would increase the safety of workers and reduce accidents”.
Under the policy’s regulatory framework for mine development and mining, a person who seeks granting of mineral concession is required to submit a labour plan duty approved by the labour department, which would include maintenance of health facilities and safety standards.
The policy also stipulates that the state government would seek collaboration of the directorate-general of mines safety for safety in mines. Mine owners will be required to ensure “stringent safety measures” for workers, tracking of miners and utilisation of technology to prevent accidents. However, the policy, which was approved last year, is yet to be implemented.(SP News)
