Parliament Question: Coal Mine Safety Technology

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 744 ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026 Coal Mine Safety Technology 744. Shri Arvind Dharmapuri: Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state: (a) the data on coal mining accidents, fatalities and compliance actions during the last five years, year-wise; (b) the status of mine safety technology deployment; (c) the expenditure on rehabilitation and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in coal mine districts; and (d) the steps taken by the Government for sustainable mining, including land reclamation and livelihood support? ANSWER MINISTER OF COAL & MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY) (a) & (b): Number of coal mining accidents and fatalities during 2021-2025 are as follows:- Year No of Fatal Accidents Fatalities 2021 43 51 2022 24 28 2023 38 41 2024 38 49 2025* 44 54 *Data of year 2025 is provisional. Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, examines the causes of accidents and issues circular for compliance by the coal companies. The following technologies are deployed for safety in coal mines: 1. Adoption of blast-free and eco-friendly mining methods, including Continuous Miners (underground mines), Surface Miners & Vertical-Rippers (Opencast mines), and High Wall Mining, for safer and cleaner operations. 2. Mechanised strata control systems, comprising advanced roof drilling machines such as Quad bolter, Twin Bolter and Universal Drilling Machine (UDM), resin capsule for anchoring roof bolting, and advanced strata monitoring instrumentation.3. Advanced mine air analysis using gas chromatographs (GC) for improved accuracy. 4. Real-time mine air monitoring through Environment Tele-Monitoring System (ETMS) and Local Methane Detectors in selected UG mines. 5. Slope monitoring systems deployed in opencast mines to assess dump and bench stability. 6. Enhanced transport safety, through GPS-enabled Vehicle Tracking Systems (VTS), Operator Independent Truck Dispatch Systems (OITDS), and geo- fencing. 7. Real-time safety surveillance via video-analytics-based Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs). 8. Modern training, including simulator-based training for HEMM operators and VR-based safety training. 9. Advanced dust suppression measures, such as fog cannons, mist spray systems, wheel washing, and mechanical sweepers. (c): The expenditure on rehabilitation and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in coal mine districts by Coal PSUs is placed at Annexure-I. (d): The Government has taken several steps for sustainable mining, including land reclamation and livelihood support. The major steps include: 1. Blast-Free, Eco-Friendly Safe Mining Technologies: Surface miners have been deployed in opencast mines; advanced mass production technologies (MPT) deployed such as Continuous Miners in underground (UG) mines; and High Wall Mining in mines to ensure safer, cleaner, and more efficient operations. 2. Establishment of First Mile Connectivity: Setting up of First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects to ensure mechanisation of coal transportation and rake loading operations, leading to environment-friendly operations with higher efficiency. 3. Bio-Reclamation/ Plantation: Progressive as well as final mine closure activities like stabilisation of Overburden dumps, backfilling of de-coaled areas, extensive plantation on OB dumps and vacant lands with native plant species for eco-restoration of mined out areas. 4. Development of Eco-Parks: Development of eco-parks in reclaimed mining areas for land restoration and sustainable development initiatives. 5. Development of water bodies: Use of water body in the final mine void for irrigation, pisciculture and ground water stabilisation and also for domestic use after treatment. 6. Skill Development and Livelihood Programmes: Skill development and livelihood enhancement programmes are regularly undertaken for project affected families. Beneficiaries are trained in handicrafts, poultry farming, mushroom cultivation, garment and apparel making, solar system installation and maintenance, welding and fabrication, food & beverage steward training, mobile repair etc. *****Annexure-I Coal India Limited (CIL) The details of expenditure on rehabilitation by CIL and its subsidiaries during the last five years in coal mine districts are mentioned below. Year Expenditure on rehabilitation (₹ Crore) 2020-21 47.672 2021-22 26.396 2022-23 69.036 2023-24 119.266 2024-25 21.9612 CIL Grand Total 284.3312 Expenditure on CSR: CSR expenditure in coal mine districts of subsidiaries of CIL during the last five financial years (2020-21 to 2024-25) is furnished below:- CSR Expenditure S. State District during FY 20-21 No. to 24-25 (₹ Crores) 1 Assam Tinsukia 3.01 TOTAL - Assam 3.01 2 Chattisgarh Balrampur - Ramanujganj 4.17 3 Chattisgarh Bilaspur 33.01 4 Chattisgarh Korba 41.18 5 Chattisgarh Korea 4.24 Manendragarh-Chirimiri- 6 Chattisgarh 0.00 Bharatpur 7 Chattisgarh Raigarh 20.91 8 Chattisgarh Surajpur 6.35 9 Chattisgarh Surguja 8.31 Expenditure on projects 10 Chattisgarh running in multiple mining 28.42 districts TOTAL - Chattisgarh 146.59 11 Jharkhand Bokaro 20.39 12 Jharkhand Chatra 27.53 13 Jharkhand Deoghar 5.01 14 Jharkhand Dhanbad 53.66 15 Jharkhand Giridih 6.75 16 Jharkhand Godda 16.28 17 Jharkhand Hazaribagh 13.78 18 Jharkhand Latehar 10.4419 Jharkhand Ramgarh 13.33 20 Jharkhand Ranchi 56.58 21 Jharkhand Pakur 0.00 22 Jharkhand Palamu 4.86 Expenditure on projects 23 Jharkhand running in multiple mining 68.37 districts TOTAL - Jharkhand 296.98 24 Madhya Pradesh Anuppur 14.87 25 Madhya Pradesh Betul 6.32 26 Madhya Pradesh Chhindwara 9.47 27 Madhya Pradesh Shahdol 2.70 28 Madhya Pradesh Singrauli 474.31 29 Madhya Pradesh Umaria 4.28 Expenditure on projects 30 Madhya Pradesh running in multiple mining 0.08 districts TOTAL - Madhya Pradesh 512.03 31 Maharashtra Chandrapur 26.16 32 Maharashtra Nagpur 89.98 33 Maharashtra Yavatmal 2.07 Expenditure on projects 34 Maharashtra running in multiple mining 0.00 districts TOTAL - Maharashtra 118.21 35 Odisha Angul 306.37 36 Odisha Jharsuguda 146.20 37 Odisha Sundargarh 100.68 38 Odisha Sambalpur 96.88 Expenditure on projects 39 Odisha running in multiple mining 0.00 districts TOTAL - Odisha 650.13 40 Uttar Pradesh Sonbhadra 152.91 TOTAL - Uttar Pradesh 152.91 41 West Bengal Bankura 0.00 42 West Bengal North 24 Parganas 5.41 43 West Bengal Paschim Bardhaman 18.69 44 West Bengal Purulia 1.13 Expenditure on projects 45 West Bengal running in multiple mining 2.88 districts TOTAL - West Bengal 28.11TOTAL - Expenditure on 46 projects running in multiple 2.10 mining districts GRAND TOTAL - CIL 1910.07 Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL) The expenditure on rehabilitation in NLCIL Mines is as follows: • In respect of lands acquired for projects at Neyveli region, the expenditure on R&R provided by NLCIL upto 25.01.2026 (under NRRP-2007& Current NLCIL’s R&R Policy as per RFCTLARR Act, 2013) is furnished in the following table. S.No. Nature of R&R benefits Amount 1 Ex-gratia payment made towards Resettlement Rs 348.23 Lakhs Allowance 2 Ex-gratia payment made for house structures on Rs 493.82 Lakhs Government Lands 3 Cost of construction in lieu of house Rs. 3750 Lakhs 4 Transportation, Maintenance and Subsistence Rs 638.32 Lakhs allowance paid 5 Cattle Shed, Petty shop Allowance paid Rs 3.30 Lakhs 6 Expenditure for development of Resettlement Centres. Rs.1364.38 Lakhs 7 Recurring expenditure including current consumption for Rs 300.00 Lakhs per maintenance, amenities and up-keeping of Resettlement annum (approx) Centres 8 One time rehabilitation grants in lieu of employment Rs. 3989 Lakhs (1457 persons) • Further, in NLCIL’s Talabira II & III OCP, the total expenditure towards rehabilitation of Sambalpur District is ₹61.81 Cr. CSR expenditure by NLCIL in coal mine districts up to January 2026 In FY 2025-26, is as under: Expenditure Coal Mine State/District (up to January 26) (Rs in Crore) Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu) 16.42 Bikaner (Rajasthan) 2.81 Sambalpur, Jharsuguda (Odisha) 1.84 Total 21.07The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) CSR expenditure of SCCL over the last three years is as follows: S. No. Financial Year CSR budget sanctioned (₹) 1 2022-23 43.05 Cr 2 2023-24 38.08 Cr 3 2024-25 107.88 Cr For the FY 2025-26, the approved CSR budget is Rs. 156 Crs. Major CSR works by SCCL during the FY 2025-26 are as follows: o Financial assistance to UPSC-cleared Civil Services aspirants – ₹2.02 Cr • Army recruitment rally at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Hanumakonda – ₹0.20 Cr • Organising Job Mela at 7 locations - Rs. 1.48 Cr. • Material/Equipment procurement & cosmetology training at Mandamarri – ₹0.07 Cr • Infrastructure facilities at Govt Junior College, Govt High School & CHC, Luxettipet (Mancherial) – ₹2.00 Cr • Infrastructure development & renovation of Govt BC Girls Hostel, Jaipur – ₹0.1645 Cr • De-silting of major nallas (Kattuvagu&Motlavagu) – Manuguru Municipality - ₹0.83 Cr • Creation of new water bodies in Manuguru Area – ₹0.413 Cr • De-silting of 3 water bodies in Samithi Singaram, Thirlapuram&Besthagudem villages – Manuguru Area – ₹1.13 Cr • Desilting of Kodipunjulavagu – Manuguru Area – ₹0.547 Cr • Rejuvenation of water bodies in Jaipur Mandal near STPP – ₹0.508 Cr • Infrastructure development in Penagadapa village near Kothagudem – ₹1.555 Cr • Rural development works – Wyra Constituency – ₹2.00 Cr • Rural development works – Sathupalli Constituency – ₹2.00 Cr • Rural development projects at Thummalapalli village (Penuballi Mandal) – ₹0.92 Cr • Central lighting works – Bhupalpalli Constituency – ₹1.50 Cr • Rural development works – Bhupalapalli Constituency – ₹2.00 Cr • Rural development works – Asifabad Constituency – ₹2.00 Cr • Development works in Chhendipada village of Naini Area – ₹5.00 Cr *****