DGMS(Tech)(SOMA)Circular No.1 of 2001 Dhanbad, Dated the 18.01.2001.
To
Owners of All
Coal and Metal Mines.
Sub: Recommendations of Gaslitand Court of Enquiry.
The Court of Inquiry appointed under Section 24 of the Mines Act, 1952 to enquire into the causes and circumstances attending the accident that occurred in Gaslitand Colliery of M/s. Bharat Coking Coal Limited on 27th September, 1995 causing loss of 65 lives due to inundation, made the following recommendations .
(1) Before the onset of monsoon, mines situated by the side of the river or other water sources should be inspected by the Directorate-General of Mines Safety along with the mine management.
(2) The feasibility of reclamation of opencast workings including the disused ones, near river and major source of water, particularly those having connections to belowground workings either directly or through subsidence racks and fissures may be examined to prevent inundation in such mines.
(3) Detailed precautionary measures against danger of inundation should be laid down while working beneath or in the vicinity of rivers and major surface water bodies, particularly during the rainy season. This may include framing and implementing standing orders for safe withdrawal of persons, provision of float alarm as a means of warning in case of rise in water level in the river in addition to river guards and an effective and speedy communication system which can function even independent of electricity and work in adverse conditions.
(4) The need for fore warning the mines about possible impending heavy rains, similar to the warning of impending cyclone issued in costal areas, may perhaps go a long way in ensuring safety of mine workers from inundation. The feasibility of linking the coalfields to the local meteorological observatories for timely dissemination of information may be examined.
(5) The possibility of stoppage of winders due to non-availability of motive force, be it steam or electricity, particularly in adverse weather conditions continue to exist in the mine. Therefore, mines which have pits as the only means of exit may require captive generators in working conditions to run the winders in case of emergency. In case of steam boilers, basic precautionary measures like keeping the boilers under proper shed, providing sufficient insulation around the boilers and the pipelines as well as attending the boilers constantly particularly in adverse weather need to be religiously followed.
(6) The need for an effective communication system over and above the signaling system between the surface and belowground which shall remain in operation ever with failure of electricity and also be rugged enough to remain operative in adverse conditions has been felt strongly. Suitable system may be developed, if not already available and used in belowground mines.
(7) Intermine barrier is an effective means to prevent transference of danger from one mine to another. In mines where the barrier have become ineffective due to interconnections or otherwise, the same may be restored early, even artificially, by constructing suitable dams, explosion proof stoppings and other methods.
(8) All disused pits, potholes and surface subsidence existing in the vicinity of river or surface source of water and where there is a danger of inundation present, shall be sealed by reinforced concrete seals or other suitable effective means.
Proper implementation of safety measures in accordance with these recommendations can bring about definite improvement in the safety standards in the mines as far as danger of inundation is concerned.
You are requested to take suitable steps to implement the recommendation of the Court of Enquiry in the mines under your control.
( R. L. Arora )
Director-General of Mines Safety