New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): A lackadaisical enforcement of mining safety laws and purchase of cheap, and substandard equipment are responsible for turning China’s mines into fatal hell-holes.
China faces a vicious circle, as mining is essential for it to fuel its booming economy. However, mining efficiency is low, forcing the country to produce more coal, and therefore, the probability of mining accidents in the country is higher.
Two miners were rushed to hospital after falling victim to a gas explosion at a coal mine in Enshi, Hubei Province. At least ten miners were killed and nine injured in the accident.
“Punishments specified by the (relevant) laws are very harsh. But the problem is that enforcement of these laws is not strict,” The China Daily quoted Huang Yi, a spokesman for the State Administration of Work Safety. He was speaking to the Beijing-based Economic Observer.
“China has become a country with the world””s most deadly mine disasters as a result of lax of enforcement and insufficient investment,” he added.
The problem is compounded by the lack of knowledge on the part of miners. They are unaware of basic mining safety rules.
Huang also admitted that Chinese coal mines are poorly equipped to protect miners.
“A few years ago, there was a 70 billion Yuan shortfall in the funds available to improve safety at State-owned coal mines,” he said.
The deficit has been reduced over the past few years, after the central government began to allocate three billion Yuan annually to help mines improve safety standards.
“But more funds are needed,” he said, “as one-third of the equipment at key state-owned mines needs to be replaced,” he said.
“Migrant workers are both perpetrators and victims of accidents,” claimed Huang. (ANI)
