SHILLONG: The Ksan tragedy in East Jaintia Hills in which 15 miners were trapped in a flooded coal mine, found mention in the Governor’s address on the first day of the Budget Session in Meghalaya Assembly on Friday.
Pointing to the rescue operation of the trapped miners in Ksan, Governor Tathagata Roy said the state government had taken all possible steps in co-ordination with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Disaster Management Department for rescue of the trapped miners.
“This involved rescue operations with participation of various agencies such as SDRF, NDRF, Odisha Fire Service, Indian Navy, National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Coal India Limited,” he said.
He added that the Indian Air Force (IAF) helped in air lifting heavy equipment, heavy duty pumps and experts from Chennai, Bhubaneshwar and Ahmedabad Guwahati air-port.
Roy said the Indian Army also provided logistical support for the rescue operation. Again, he said the district administration along with Police, Fire Service, and Officers of various other departments were fully involved in the rescue operations.
Safe environment for miners
On the other hand, he said the government was committed to promote scientific, secure and environmentally friendly coal mining in state complying with all statutory Central legislations pertaining to environmental protection and safety of mine workers.
He added that the government had framed guidelines for coal mining and an Action Plan has been prepared in consultation with Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI), Ranchi to start coal mining in line with direction of National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Roy informed that the CMPDI has started exploration activity in 1 sq.km coal block of Khliehriat-Sutnga for preparation of Geological Report and Feasibility study and subsequently prepare the mining plan for coal mining.