India Records Highest Ever Coal Production in 2023-24

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 1st August. India has achieved its highest-ever coal production for the fiscal year 2023-24, with a provisional output of 997.828 Million Tonnes (MT). This marks a significant increase from previous years, reflecting the country’s robust coal production capabilities.

Over the past five years, coal production and imports have been as follows:

*Provisional Figure

The coal mining sector operates under the Mines Act, 1952, with oversight from the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS). The act includes regulations and guidelines for safe mining practices, accident investigations, and risk management. Recent efforts to enhance safety in coal mines include:

1. Risk Management Plans: Implementation of Site Specific Risk Assessment-based Safety Management Plans (SMPs) and Principal Hazards Management Plans (PHMPs).
2. Safety Audits: Regular audits by multi-disciplinary teams to ensure compliance with safety standards.
3. Strata Management: Adoption of advanced mechanisms for managing mine strata and monitoring mine environments.
4. Safety Measures:
   • Open Cast Mines: Use of eco-friendly surface miners, traffic rules, training simulators, and advanced safety equipment.
   • Underground Mines: Introduction of semi-mechanization, use of resin capsules for roof control, continuous miner technology, and improved emergency response plans.
5. Training: Comprehensive training programs for mine safety, including initial, refresher, and on-the-job training, skill upgradation, and risk management.
6. Inspection: Continuous supervision and regular inspections by competent and statutory officials to ensure adherence to safety norms.

Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, highlighted these measures and the record coal production in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. The focus on safety and efficiency aims to further bolster the coal industry’s performance and reduce mining accidents.