The Indian Mines Inspectorate (Directorate General of Mines Safety) has confirmed that it has committed to eliminating mining fatal accidents by 2030. The move came as the Indian mines inspectorate participated in a forum for “Assessment of the current status of Safety Management Plan (SMP)”
The bold declaration comes as the Indian mining industry has gathered for a two-day conference to discuss the application of mine safety management plans in the industry.
Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Deputy Director General (South Eastern Zone, Ranchi), S S Bagchi told media, “The main focus of today’s workshop was to discuss ways so as to eliminate fatal accidents at mines. At the workshop, the experts discuss on risk assessment at mining activities.”
Mr Bagchi also claimed that the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) was targeting zero fatalities across the Indian mining industry by 2030.
Mine safety has continued to be a thorn in the side for the Indian Government with around 377 deaths reported between 2015 and 2017. While the death rates per million tonnes have fallen, the industry has been characterised by a small number of accidents with large fatality numbers.
According to publically available information, small ‘rat hole’ illegal mining activities have contributed significantly to that number.
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The Pioneer News reported that the recent DGMS two day conference attracted representatives from forty large mining companies. Representatives from groups such as Hindalco Industries Ltd, Northern Coalfields, Central Coalfields Ltd, Tata Steel Ltd were in attendance.
In January 2019, the Queensland Government’s Safety In Mines Testing & Research Station (Simtars) signed a three year MOU with Mr Utpal Saha, Director General Mines Safety (DGMS) for collaborating on a range of activities related to improving mine safety.
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