Govt assures Parl panel on coal mine safety funds
New Delhi: Following concerns that the budget meant for conservation and safety in coal mines remained highly under-utilised in the 2024-25 financial year, the govt has assured a parliamentary standing committee that it will use the funds for hi-tech security installations, equipment modernisation, and regulating "unpaid" extra working hours of workers.
Responding to the observations in the fourth report (18th Lok Sabha) of the standing committee on coal, mines and steel on demands for grants (2025-26), the Ministry of Coal in its action taken report said its public sector undertakings will also examine global safety practices to reduce recurring fatal accidents.
"The safety budget will be utilised fully to improve the execution of safety installations such as LiDAR scanners, tele-monitoring, AI-based hazard detection in underground mines, mandatory biometric attendance of workers to regulate their unpaid extra working hours, and modernisation of safety equipment, etc.," the ministry stated in the ATR, adding that the effectiveness of the National Coal Mine Safety Portal will be reviewed periodically.
The report was tabled both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Friday.
The committee observed that the budgetary allocation for safety and infrastructure development in coal mines in 2025-26 remained stagnant at Rs 20 crore, despite a "considerable number of mine accidents." It noted that the govt allocated Rs 20 crore in 2024-25, which was later cut to Rs 10.79 crore, indicating no significant investment in safety upgrades.
"It is a matter of concern further that despite ~50% reduction in BE, the quarterly spending of FY 2024-25 as on 12 Feb 2025 is skewed, with only Rs 1.7 crore spent in the first quarter and Rs 6.9 crore in the third quarter. The second quarter reflects nil expenditure," the committee said in the report, tabled in the House on March 12.
It added that land acquisition issues, roof fall incidents, limited safety culture and negligence, illegal and rat-hole mining, unplanned coal transportation, and coal theft affected worker safety and operational efficiency.
In its action taken reply, the Ministry of Coal said that sufficient requisitions were not received under this sub-scheme during FY 2024-25 and only Rs 8.6 crore was spent on conservation and safety in coal mines against the revised estimate of Rs 9.7 crore.
Responding to the observations in the fourth report (18th Lok Sabha) of the standing committee on coal, mines and steel on demands for grants (2025-26), the Ministry of Coal in its action taken report said its public sector undertakings will also examine global safety practices to reduce recurring fatal accidents.
"The safety budget will be utilised fully to improve the execution of safety installations such as LiDAR scanners, tele-monitoring, AI-based hazard detection in underground mines, mandatory biometric attendance of workers to regulate their unpaid extra working hours, and modernisation of safety equipment, etc.," the ministry stated in the ATR, adding that the effectiveness of the National Coal Mine Safety Portal will be reviewed periodically.
The report was tabled both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Friday.
The committee observed that the budgetary allocation for safety and infrastructure development in coal mines in 2025-26 remained stagnant at Rs 20 crore, despite a "considerable number of mine accidents." It noted that the govt allocated Rs 20 crore in 2024-25, which was later cut to Rs 10.79 crore, indicating no significant investment in safety upgrades.
It added that land acquisition issues, roof fall incidents, limited safety culture and negligence, illegal and rat-hole mining, unplanned coal transportation, and coal theft affected worker safety and operational efficiency.
In its action taken reply, the Ministry of Coal said that sufficient requisitions were not received under this sub-scheme during FY 2024-25 and only Rs 8.6 crore was spent on conservation and safety in coal mines against the revised estimate of Rs 9.7 crore.
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