The Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) — a mini Navratna is in the process of setting up an Environment laboratory at Kusmunda mines in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh.
The most important environment related activities being carried out by CMPDI is the Environment Impact Assessment and Environment Management Plan among other key tasks for the mines of Coal India limited, officials stated.
It also undertakes environmental auditing works of different coal mining projects of Coal India limited as and when required.
CMPDI also carries out the Regional Environmental Studies for different coalfields as and when need arises.
Other important activity undertaken on regular basis by CMPDI is environmental monitoring of mines of Coal India limited on behalf of subsidiary companies for compliance of statutory direction of Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) and State Pollution Control Boards.
Notably, the Coal India subsidiary — the South Eastern Coalfields ltd (SECl) would be utilising fixed water sprinkler for dust suppression system at coal stockyard and coal transportation roads at Baroud Open Cast Mine (OCM) of Baroud Sub-Area of Raigarh area.
Notably, the SECl has won prestigious "Indira Priyadarshini Vriksha Mitra Award" Instituted By Ministry Of Environment & Forest and "Jawahar lal Nehru Memorial Award For Excellence In Pollution Control" in New Delhi.
To enhance and maintain the safety awareness among workers Safety Fortnights and special safety drives are observed in mines of SECl. Awareness and Safety talks in each shift are being practiced on regular basis to develop a safety culture in accordance of “Code of Safe Practices”, officials stated.
The initial training is imparted to all new entrant and refresher training to all employees as per statute. Thrust on training and retraining of Supervisors, Support Personnel, HEMM operators and contractor’s workers was maintained as a strategy to reduce accidents due to roof/side falls in underground mines and accidents in opencast mines and at surface of mines, they stated.
Apart from statutory training being provided to employees of SECl under the Mines Vocational Training Rules, 1966 at the time of intake and refresher training at regular interval at VTCs at Areas, need based training is also imparted at Area level and at Management Development Institute of SECl HQ, Bilaspur.
Executives are also undergoing special training at IICM, Ranchi and other educational institutions or organisations, officials stated.