The history of coalmine collapse in Balochistan is as old as coalmining itself. During just the past six years over 300 colliers lost their lives as a result of coalmine collapse and exposure to methane gas in Balochistan. The mines collapse due to blasts inside the mine that occur when methane gas fills the mine. Presently, over 100,000 miners work in over 3,000 coalmines throughout Balochistan, but regrettably the owners or contractors do not provide methane gas detectors to the miners despite the fact that many miners have lost their lives due to methane gas blasts. The ropes and trolleys used to transport the miners to the depths of the mine are in a dilapidated condition causing breakage of ropes which is another cause of colliers’ death inside the mine.
Razzaq Khan Khilji, the Chairman of Balochistan Geo Scientists Association (BGSA) explained that when methane gas fills in a coalmine the methane gas detector sounds an alarm, alerting the miners to not enter the mine and to immediately come out if they are inside. He lamented that “The owners and contractors of coalmines in Balochistan are minting billions of rupees but they do not purchase a methane detector which is available relatively cheaply in the market”.
Official sources told Dawn that the mines department and some other government organisations are responsible for monitoring the availability or absence of rescue and safety equipment in mine areas but unfortunately, as alleged by labour leaders, these officials turn a blind eye to the issue as they receive their share and ‘monthly commission’ from the mine owners regularly.
According to sources, coalmine areas of Zardalo, Harnai and Shahrag have about 80 million tons of coal reserves, Dukki 55 million tons, Degari and Sorrange 52 million tons, Chamalang 60 million tons, Machh 25 million tons, Ziarat 15 million tons and Musa Khel and Loralai 10 million tons.
Geologists fear that hundreds of coalmines are in very dilapidated condition and the mines department and the owners are not paying attention to ensure the availability of safety and rescue equipment due to which more accidents might take place in future, claiming lives at a large scale.
They say that other hazards to poor workers include coal supply collapse, long wall shield collapse, falls, burns and electrocution as the mines department and the owners/contractors of the coalmines fail to arrange training of the workers.
A survey carried out by BGSA has suggested that Chamalang, Machh, Sorrange and Degari coalmines have more carbon dioxide inside them than other mines resulting in more incidents of deaths of colliers in these areas.
They said that if these mines are equipped with methane gas monitoring system, the risk of explosions could be reduced. If the authorities are sincere to resolve the miseries of poor coalminers they would have to ensure availability of emergency rescue and safety equipments in the coalmines.
Most of the miners in Balochistan are employed on contract basis and unfortunately, no mainstream legislation has been carried out for them so far. However, the labour policy of 2010, announced by the then labour minister, Syed Khurshid Shah, binds the owner/contractor of coalmine to follow rules and regulations, such as minimum wage payment and improvement of safety at the coalfield.
Under the constitution the government is bound to ensure development and social welfare of all labourers including coalminers. Article 37 (e) of the constitution makes provision regarding the standard working conditions at workplaces, but no serious steps have been taken to ensure life of coal miners, improve working condition or provide health and education facilities to colliers’ children.
The Pakistan Institute of Labour, Education and Research says that the condition of coal miners is so poor due to non-implementation of labour laws in letter and spirit.
Though there are laws and rules and regulations to monitor implementation of safety procedure in coalmine range, accidents are common due to very poor technical standards in mines. Besides this, violation of labour laws is a routine matter. Pakistan Workers Confederation has urged the government to implement labour laws in coalfields following ILO Conventions. The Pakistan government announced five labour policies in 1955, 1959, 1969, 1972 and 2002 for the protection of labour rights and to resolve their grievances.
Rather than ensuring social justice as per international rights of miners, reports of corruption in government sector funds allocated for social welfare of workers are rampant.