Environment management, safety key to future mining activities: Coal Secretary

Kolkata, Nov 8 (IANS) Stressing up on the need for better environmental management and higher safety measures in the mining sector, Coal Secretary Susheel Kumar on Wednesday said the future mining activity would be in jeopardy if enough attention is not paid on these two aspects.

"I would say priorities for mining sector should be environment and safety. Probably these are taken of efficiently...the way it should occupancy the central position in your thoughts, I find, it is not.

"If we do not pay adequate attention, the public pressure would be so enormous that the future of this economic activity (mining) would be in jeopardy. This is, according to me, is an existential question," he said here while addressing the 7th Asian Mining Congress hosted by the Mining Geological and Metallurgical Institute of India (MGMI).

Susheel Kumar said the mining companies do not have fund constraints and there was no shortage of technical experts. "From the outsider's point of view, the problem is of attitude, lack of training and skills at the lower level," he said.

Recalling that it was decided Coal India would embark upon a detail plan of action which would ensure every employee would be skilled, he said he hoped this work is going on.

Citing an example of how concerted efforts contributed to improvement of Ease of Doing business index, he said the same sincerity could be shown by the mining industries to maintain the highest standard of safety.

On the sidelines, Susheel Kumar said the better safety measures in mining are necessary not only for Coal India but also to other industries.