Effectiveness of Statutory Framework for Safety in Mines and Prevention of Disasters

Abstract

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM- Mining is regarded as a risky and hazardous profession. It is a highly unsafe and accident prone industry that has degenerative effects on geological, geographical, environmental and socio-economic set up of the site and its surroundings. The history of mine has witnessed many disasters .An explosion at Chasnala coal mine in Dhanbad, India on December 27th lead to deaths of at least 372 mine workers and it is still considered to be one of the greatest Indian mining tragedies. A very recent disaster of explosion in underground mines occurred in Central China’s Henan Province on 16th October 2010 killing 21 and many were buried inside the mine. Thus, mine disasters still continue to haunt all over the world even today.The mining sector has many classifications in terms of its nature of use and process of extraction like petroleum and natural gas exploration both in land surface and deep sea, coal mining or excavation etc. This paper attempts to confine its research only in coal sector where the hazards are rampant since it can not visible in dark. Earlier, coal mining used to be in form of underground or closed cast, but now with the development of new technology it is more in the form of open cast or open pit ones. Even though, the latter one is considered to be less hazardous, still it cannot be taken granted in all cases as continuous new hazards of bigger magnitude are occurring along with the traditional ones. Moreover, with the ever increasing size of human population coupled with the quest for minerals and its over-exploitation adds a newer dimension to the existing issue.Thus, the disaster management in coal mines is the need of the hour to guard against and to resolve or mitigate these issues of aftermath of major accidents so by religiously following the wording that 'Prevention is always better than cure'. Certain Legislations passed by Indian Parliament relates to safety and prevention of hazards. In some cases, it is found that the workers are migrant and are not adequately trained to do works designated to them; and by their own negligence cause accidents. However, it can be regarded that the legislations or statutes are nothing but blanket piece until it‘s beneficial provisions are properly implemented for desirable outcomes.RESEARCH OBJECTIVES- The study of the Coal industry is very much relevant in present scenario as it is considered to be an epitome in terms of industrial usefulness and hazardous nature. The main objectives of undertaking this research are as follows- To identify main hazards like- landslide, inundation, mining fire and presence of toxic or poisonous gases. Laws so far enacted to solve these problems and till now how far safety or precautionary measures have been taken to mitigate these dangers.