Sunday, Oct 19, 2003
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Andhra Pradesh
By Our Staff Reporter
If the roof-bolting support system had been strengthened and standardised and activated in all underground mines, there would not have been roof falls at GDK 8 (A) incline underground which claimed 10 lives on Friday and the KK-2 and KK-5 mine mishaps in Adilabad a few years ago. There are about 56 underground mines and 11 open cast projects (OCP) of the SCCL in Karimnagar, Adilabad, Khammam and Warangal districts. In the underground mine, only about 60 per cent coal would be extracted and the 40 per cent would be left as it is for roof support purposes. But, the officials `quest' for more coal production to get `accolades' from the management have laid stress only on production of coal, giving least importance to safety in the UG mines. Initially, the SCCL used wooden planks to support the roof and later shifted to the iron beams and they were now using roof bolts. Each roof bolt protects about one to two tonnes of coal from falling. The fifth conference on safety in the mines has decided to procure about 19 lakh roof bolts during this year, along with cement capsules for full column grouting and also 150 mm X 150 mm X 6 mm beaming plates used for roof bolting, nut, bolt and beaming plates etc. The officials were not taking up the roof bolting and even if the coal workers demand more roof bolts they were forced to remain silent and carry on the coal excavation, it was alleged. The proposal to establish a training gallery in each underground mine and impart training on roof bolting activity to the support workmen and a drill machine per each working gallery have remained a distant dream to the miners, causing serious and fatal accidents. It is also alleged that the area safety department was not performing its duties properly on the safety of the work force. The activities of the safety department include inspection of mines and apprising the general managers and advising the managers to take remedial measures, inquire into all fatal and serious accidents and other dangerous occurrences. They should also conduct surprise checks at the mines with area safety audit teams and to pinpoint differences and lacunas. Despite work force informing the ground staff of the crackling sounds in the underground mine at 8 (A) incline at depillaring area for several days, the officials allegedly neglected the cause, leading to the fall of the roof measuring about 11 metres long, four metres wide and three metres thick, killing 10 persons. The minimum safety of supplying shoes to coalminers is also inadequate in the Singareni coal mines and majority of miners were seen wearing chappals while entering the mine. However, officials said that they could control the roof and side fall accidents by using load haul dumpers (LHD) and side dump loaders (SDL). But it would reduce the work force, they added. While the CGM (safety), VPR Vittal, said they would take the necessary steps to procure from abroad state-of-the-art modern technology, which predicts roof falls.
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