ACCIDENT IN SIGARENI COLLIERIES
Seventeen workmen
were drowned due to inundation in 7 LEP Mine of Godawari Khani
of Singareni Collieries Co. Ltd. on 16.6.2003. First shift top
section development workings of No.3 seam got connected with bottom
section workings of the same seam that had been extracted in conjunction
with hydraulic sand stowing and was containing water. This led
to inundation of the top section working and drowning of seventeen
workmen.
SCCL has lost
a coal production of 41,000 tonnes due to one day token strike
in the Ramagundam Region and 3,168 tonnes at GDK-7LEP mine from
16.6.2003 to 25.6.2003. A preliminary enquiry by SCCLand Departmental
enquiry by Internal safety Organisation of SCCL ahs been conducted
in this regard. On the basis of preliminary enquiry, SCCL management
had already suspended Shri J. Nagaiah, Agent, Shri A. Ravi Kumar,
Manager, Shri Abdul Gafoor, Safety Officer and officiating Manager
and Shri P. Papi Reddy, Surveyor. The Statutory Enquiry by the
DGMS Officer has already been initiated as per the provision of
the Mines Act, 1952. A Court of Enquiry is in the process of being
set up by the Government under Mines Act, 1952.
Details of ex-gratia
and compensation paid to dependants of victims are:
- An ex-gratia of Rs.25,000/-
has been paid to meet the immediate funeral expenses.
- Compensation as per Workmen’s
Compensation Act due to fatal accident.
- A special Ex-gratia of Rs. 6.00
Lakh per workman has been paid as declared by Hon’ble Chief
Minister of AP (Rs.3.00 Lakhs from Company and Rs.3.00 lakhs
from Chief Minister’s Relief Fund).
The total compensation
paid to each worker’s family under Wormen’s Compensation Act and
the special ex-gratia varies between Rs.8.79 Lakhs to Rs. 10.41
Lakhs. The total terminal benefit comprising special ex-gratia,
compensation, Insurance, Provident Fund and Gratuity etc. varies
between Rs.12.56 Lakhs to Rs. 19.67 Lakhs to the family of each
deceased workman.
Following steps
are being taken by SCCL to prevent accidents due to inundation
from surface water in monsoon.
- As per the guidelines of DGMS,
pre-monsoon statutory check surveys have been carried – out
both on surface and underground to assess the danger of inundation.
- 7 mines have been identified
having potential danger of inundation from surface water as
their workings lie below HFL of River Godavari or Nallah.
- Standing orders on safety management
have been displayed in local language on notice boards and
at prominent places for increasing awareness of the workmen
- Escape routes were identified
and marked in underground workings.
- Check-surveys are being conducted
by special teams in every operating mine at regular intervals.
- During monsoon season Sr. Officers
conduct surprise checks on existing arrangements.
- Liaison is being maintained
with Meteorological department and Central Water Commission,
to give warning about impending heavy rains and also to give
intimation at the time of opening of flood gates in case of
excess flow of water into reservoirs.
- Addressing supervisors and executives
on the risk of inundation and to bring awareness among them.
After the above disaster
in SCCL on 16.6.03 at GDK-7 LEP mine, Safety audit has been conducted
in all the mines of SCCL, to assess the threat of inundation due
to similar cause All the stowed panels are now proposed to be
treated as "likely water bodies."
In such mines, the
following measures are proposed to prevent recurrence of such
inundation accidents.
- The preparatory stopping in
bottom most level of the stowing panel shall be so constructed
as to provide good drainage, till the panel is finally sealed
off and shall be closed at the last stage of isolating the
panel with specially built water seals.
- While working over the stowed
panels, the parting shall be continuously ascertained by drilling
bore holes at every junction and at a interval of 10 mtrs.
- All the minor faults known while
working the bottom section shall be clearly marked with throw
in the combined plan so that bore holes of adequate length
can be put for ascertaining thickness of parting as well as
presence of water.
- These test holes shall be reamed
to top-up sand to ensure that the voids are filled if at all
found. Proper stowing has to be ensured.
- For every stowing district there
should be positive drainage at the bottom most level for each
panel.
- Awareness programme and precautions
against the inundation shall be taken up among all the officers
of the company.
This information
was given by the Minister of Coal, Shri Kariya Munda, in a written
reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
