Precautionary measures sought for coal mining

ISLAMABAD: The Director General of Mines and Minerals Department Balochistan, Iftikhar Ahmed on Thursday asked the coal and mining workers to take precautionary measures for avoiding tragic incidents in the mining sites.

Talking to APP, he said that about 80,000 laborers employed across the province as each site consists of 600 mines including Chamalang, Harnai, Mach, Duki, Marwar and Sowrange.

He said that that mostly the incidents occurred due to negligence of the laborers as it is difficult for them to inspect the mine’s sites on regular basis.

He asked the laborers and mines owner to cooperate with the department in following safety and health measures. He said that the government would take stern action against those mine owners who do not take precautions and security measures in their mines, adding that the government had already imposed ban on 80 mines in the province.

Replying to a question, he said the department organizes training sessions for mine’s workers on monthly basis besides paying them Rs. 500 to 600 stipend per day to each participant of the training session.

He said the main reason of the deaths in the mine is lack of oxygen and explosion due to methane gas. He said that around 98 cases of death and 90 cases of injuries reported during this year in the province.

The mines are mostly managed by watchmen and unskilled persons, he added. President of Pakistan Labour Federation, Sultan Muhammad Khan called upon the authorities concerned to form safety and security measures according to the Balochistan Mineral Role 2002 and International Labour organization that are observed in all mines.

He said that the government is collecting Rs. 170 per ton revenue from coal mining and the laborers are being compensated with Rs. 200,000 of death grant, which should be increased to one million.

He said that not even a single owner is prosecuted for not taking precautionary measures under the law. He urged the governments to take the issue more seriously for making efforts to implement the law for overcoming coal mine incidents.