Parliament Question: Health issues near mines

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3148 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2026 HEALTH ISSUES NEAR MINES 3148. SMT. PRIYANKA CHATURVEDI: Will the Minister of Labour and Employment be pleased to state: (a) whether Government is aware that people living near mines are showing lung damage, respiratory diseases, with studies documenting coal dust, silica and heavy metal exposure causing chronic health impacts; (b) the number of mine workers and nearby residents diagnosed with pneumoconiosis, silicosis and other occupational lung diseases during the last five years, State-wise; (c) the compensation provided to affected workers and families and the details of medical surveillance programmes and treatment facilities; (d) the details of enforcement of dust suppression norms, air quality monitoring at mines and penalties for violations; and (e) the measures protecting workers' health– respirators, regular health checkups and mandatory retirement age? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE) (a) to (e): The Central Government has enacted the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH&WC) Code, 2020, which has come into force on 21.11.2025 to regulate occupational safety, health and working conditions of the persons employed in registered establishments including mines. Schedule III of the OSH&WC Code 2020 lists out all notifiable diseases including occupational lung diseases such as coal miners’ pneumoconiosis and silicosis among workers employed in the mines. The OSH&WC Code, 2020 mandates for notice to be given by employer for occurrence of such diseases. The OSH&WC Code, 2020 mandates initial medical examination before employment and annual medical examination thereafter for mine workers. The OSH&WC Code Contd..2/-:: 2 :: 2020 also provides for employer responsibility to maintain safe and healthy conditions at workplaces to protect workers from occupational diseases. The state-wise mine workers diagnosed with Coal Miners’ pneumoconiosis and silicosis in the last five years, is given below: Year No. of Coal Miners’ Name of State Pneumoconiosis (CMP) 2021 2 Telangana 1 Odisha 2022 2 Telangana 2023 1 Telangana 2024 2 Telangana 2025 1 Telangana Year No. of Silicosis Name of State 2021 4 Andhra Pradesh 2 Kerela 2022 8 Karnataka 8 Telangana 2023 0 - 2024 2 Jharkhand 2025 3 Telangana 1 Jharkhand The Employees' Compensation Act, 1923, subsumed in the Code on Social Security 2020 which has come into force on 21.11.2025, provides for payment of compensation to employees and their dependents in case of injury and accident arising out of and in the course of employment and resulting in disablement or death. The Act is implemented by the State / UTs. Inspector-cum-facilitator during the inspection pursues dust suppression norms, prevention and air quality monitoring at mines and issues violations, notices and temporary stoppage of the workings, after necessary approvals. Repeated non-compliance attracts penalties including fines and prosecution. The OSH&WC Code, 2020 and the rules framed thereunder also have provisions of providing protective equipment including dust respirators for the safety of mine workers. *****