China to shut 5,000 non-coal mines over security

Beijing, Feb 21:

's safety watchdog has said it will suspend or shut down operations in over 5,000 non-

mines this year over their failure to meet required safety standards, Xinhua reported.

The government will take steps to reduce accidents in non-coal mines and keep the death toll below 900 this year, the state administration of work safety said in a statement.

It said it will order mines to enhance safety measures, improve their emergency response mechanisms and build monitoring systems.

China's hundreds of thousands of non-coal mines, most of which are operated at a small scale with poor safety conditions, are major targets of work safety campaigns.

To further regulate the sector, the administration said it would work with related departments to create policies stipulating operating standards, including minimum operation scales.

IANS