Adopt concept of 'Zero Harm' in Coal mining: Rao

New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) The Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayana Rao today suggested the mining companies to adopt the concept of 'zero harm' while augmenting coal production, that will ensure implementation of good safety systems and practices for the coal miners.

''For such an approach, periodical review of safety of miners is a must and our efforts in doing so through this forum will go a long way in protecting the interest of workers in mines and increasing coal production and productivity,'' Dr Rao said here, while addressing the 30th meeting of the Standing Committee on Safety in Coal Mines.

He called upon coal companies to adopt the concept of risk assessment and management of mines and putting efforts to make working safe.

Dr Rao advised the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) to evolve fresh guidelines within three months for risk assessment of all 560 mines of Coal India Ltd (CIL).

He further asked all coal companies both in private and public sector to ensure that the short-fall in all categories of statutory personnel is filled up by December this year. This will greatly improve safe operations in coal mining.

Presently, there is a short-fall in coal India of 2,500 in executive category and 1,600 in non executive category. The personnel is non-executive category include surveyors, mining sirdars, overman, while executive category personnel are, second class mining engineers, electrical and mechanical engineers and welfare officers.

It was decided that replacement of manual drilling by mechanical drilling in underground coal mines should be done within one year. This will not only make mining safer but also improve efficiency in mining.

Referring to the disturbing trend of rising accidents in opencast mines due to dumper movements, Dr Rao stressed that this should not be tolerated as the same is totally avoidable.

The minister asked managements of coal companies to devise appropriate traffic movement systems and totally avoid recurrence of such accidents.

UNI