Parliament Question: Health Impact on Mining Workers

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTHRESEARCH LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1049 TOBE ANSWERED ON05TH DECEMBER, 2025 HEALTH IMPACTONMINING WORKERS 1049.SHRIVISHNU DAYALRAM: Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether the Government has conducted any studies on the health impacts of living near minesandcollieriesand if so, the detailsthereof; (b) the details of the provisions in place for periodic health check-ups, screening, and medical assistance for these populace; (c) whether there is coordination between the Ministries of Coal and Health for mitigation and healthcaredelivery inminingzonesinthe country; and (d) if so, the detailsthereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATEIN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV) (a): Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that National Institute of Occupational Health (ICMR-NIOH), had carried out following studies which assessed health impactonvicinity communitynearminesandcollieries: A study was carried out upon the coal field workers and the residents living in the vicinity of coal mines of Northern Coalfields Limited. A total of 1202 subjects were included in the health monitoring study which included 559 workers working on the direct mining activities and 303 employees working in supporting and supervisory activities of Northern Coalfields limited selected by proportionate stratified random sampling method and 340 residents in the immediate vicinity of the mines. In the resident groups 3.0% reported cough. Similarly, among residents the other symptoms included tiredness (2.7%), backache (4.2%), headache (2.1%) and digestive disturbances (1.8%). The abnormal pulmonary function test pattern reported among workers, supervisors and community were 14.3%, 10% and 7.8% respectively. The chest X‐ray showing the findings of interstitial lungfibrosis was observed in 2.5% miners, 2.3% supervisory workers and2.7% residents in the vicinity of mines. Blood mercury analysis was done on 237 mining workers, 94 supervisory workers and 138 residents. When compared to the permissible level of mercury in blood i.e. <5.8μg/dl it was found that 6.8% subjects in mining group and 8% in the residents group had bloodmercury levels higher than Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). None of the subject in supervisory group hadhigherthanPELlevelsof bloodmercury. Another study assessed lead levels in air, water, and children’s blood, along with medical and psychological evaluations of 298 exposed and 154 control children residing near the Rampura Agucha Mine, Hindustan Zinc Limited, Bhilwara, District, Rajasthan. Air and water near mining areasmet Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)lead standards. The meanbloodlead levelswere higher in exposed group (Male:7.7 ± 3.5 μg/dL, Female:8.56 ± 3.49 μg/dL) than control group (Male:6.12 ± 2.68 μg/dL, Female:4.63±3.51 μg/dL). No cases of lead toxicity were found among the examined children. Physical growth and IQ scores were similar between exposed and control groups, indicating no observed impact from the lead exposure levels. Overall, lead exposure in miningareasshowed nodetectable healtheffectsinchildren. In yet another study in and around operating units of National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a total of 428 subjects from Angul and Damanjodi communities and workers from smelter, captivepower plant,mines, andrefinerywere assessed. The respiratory impairmentamong the communitypeople were Angul Community2.35% andDamanjodi Community2.04%. (b) to(d): Ministry of Coal has informed that Coal India Limited (CIL) and its subsidiaries regularly provide the healthcare facilities to the persons living in nearby villages of mining area. Health Camps and healthcare facilities mainly focuses on screening and general healthcare, eye checkup camps, immunization camps, maternal and child health management camps, tuberculosis detection and management camps through “Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan”. Cancer detection camps, Thalassemia detection camp, mental health consultation and stress management systems are given utmost importance. CIL engages mobile medical vans to provide healthcare facilities with doctors and trained staffs for providing medical care to far flung villages and for the backward communities and regions specially. Surgeries are conducted regularly at different hospitals for local villagers at no cost basis or with very minimal charges. CIL and its subsidiaries have a total of 64 hospitals including 16 central hospitals and 300 dispensaries spreading across 8 states, and is staffed by 1060 Doctors, 940 Nurses and around 2301 Paramedical Staffs, with 3600 hospital beds, 494 ambulances and 18 mobile Vans. These healthcare facilities are available to all local populace also onmostly no cost basis or with a nominal fees. Further, variousinitiatives from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds are undertaken by Coal India Limited (CIL) and its subsidiaries to provide healthcare services to the populace residing in mining areas. These efforts include periodic health screening camps, operating Mobile Medical Units (MMUs), creation of healthcare infrastructure, providing financialassistance for medical equipment inexisting hospitals andprojectstargeting specific diseases. Similarly, NLC India Limited (NLCIL) has established comprehensive health-care arrangements for project-affected population across its project area in the states of Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Odisha and Jharkhand. It provides for the consultations by specialist doctors and awareness programson hygiene,nutrition,andpreventive healthcare. The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has stated that the most of the communities residing inareas surrounding the Coal Mines are residential coloniesof employee familiesandtheyare having near access to Company Hospitals and Dispensaries. Atotal of 12 Occupational Health Centers are functioning in area hospitals located near the mining areas. These centers facilitate periodic screening for occupational diseases. Identified cases are placed under surveillance to monitor disease progression and ensure compliance to prescribed medication. SCCL operates 7 area hospitals, including the Main Hospital, and 21 dispensaries across the coal belt. These facilities provide medical services to employees, their families, retired personnel, spouses, and civilians affected by the projects. Area hospitals offer specialty care and 24/7 emergency services. Surgical procedures and maternal & child health (MCH) services are routinely performed. Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are in place with corporate hospitals for tertiary care services. Mobile medical camps are regularly conducted in residential colonies of project-affected areas as part of SCCL's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Patients requiring tertiarycare are referredtocorporate hospitals for advancedtreatment. The Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD). The Chronic Respiratory Diseases (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) & Asthma) are an integral part of NP-NCD. The programme includes strengthening infrastructure, human resource development, health promotion, screening for common NCDs i.e. diabetes, hypertension and common cancers (oral, breast and cervical), early diagnosis andmanagementand referral toanappropriate levelof healthcare facility Ministry of Coal and Health Ministry have an effective coordination and communication. Regular meetings take place between the State/District/Health Authorities and Coal India subsidiary Authorities for implementation of different Govt. Programmes which are primarily targeted for the benefitof populationliving innearbyminingZonesinthe country. ****