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Sunday, Nov 04, 2007
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More compensation for victims of mining accidents

Our Special Correspondent

To be applicable to CIL employees and workers

KOLKATA: The Centre has announced more compensation for workers and employees of the public sector Coal India Ltd. (CIL) in the event of a mining accident.

The additional compensation amounts to Rs.5 lakh.

Union Coal Minister Dasari Narayana Rao made the announcement at the foundation day celebration of CIL here.

Currently, employees killed in an accident are entitled to compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation Act, an ex gratia payment under an agreement with the Joint Business Council of the Coal Industry (JBCCI), besides terminal benefits. These usually work out to about Rs.6 lakhs, but vary according to the tenure of service and the grade. This apart, a job is offered to the next of kin of the victim.

In the event of a disaster in which more than 10 persons are killed, such as last year’s accident in the Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, additional payments are usually announced by visiting Ministers and the Chief Minister of the concerned state.

The additional package is also applicable to those who suffer permanent disability.

Fatalities in mining accidents average 70 annually for CIL, which produces over 80 per cent of the country’s coal. Forty-three people had died between January and August 2007 in 41 accidents.

This is higher than the figure for the same period last year.

Dr. Rao said CIL would have to nearly double its incremental production in the current Plan period. The target was 521 million tonnes at an investment of Rs.18,000 crore. The Minister also gave away awards to miners.

Dr. Rao met Industry Minister Nirupam Sen, who urged him to release the 22 coal blocks indicated for the State and its undertakings. The meeting was attended by State Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb, Industry Secretary Sabyasachi Sen, Union Coal Secretary H.C. Gupta, and CIL Chairman Partha Sarathi Bhattacharya.

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