The Union government has committed to fully utilising the coal-mine safety budget for 2024–25, with plans to strengthen security systems, modernise equipment and improve welfare measures for mine workers. The assurance came through an action-taken report submitted to a parliamentary standing committee reviewing safety lapses in the coal sector.
According to the report, the enhanced funding will support the deployment of advanced surveillance tools, upgraded protective equipment, and technology-driven monitoring systems in both underground and open-cast mines. A key part of the plan is to strictly regulate unpaid extra working hours, ensuring that miners’ overtime is properly recorded and compensated.
Public sector undertakings (PSUs) in the coal industry have also been directed to examine global best practices in mine safety. The objective is to adopt internationally proven systems to reduce fatal accidents, which remain a concern in several mining regions.
Officials further noted that the National Coal Mine Safety Portal will undergo periodic audits to improve its effectiveness in tracking safety compliance and incident reporting.
With these measures, the government aims to significantly elevate safety standards, enhance worker protections and modernise risk-management frameworks across India’s coal-mining ecosystem.
