Mine experts fear major disaster at Barapukuria
Observing faults and inadequate safety measure, experts at Barapukuria coal mine have apprehended that a large-scale disaster in the mine might occur in future if any effective measure is not taken immediately.
Tuesday's roof collapse at the coal mine that left one dead and 19 others injured is now a great concern for the authorities, as this incident is a pre-warning of a large-scale disaster in the mine, experts told The Daily Star yesterday wishing anonymity.
“The accident could have been prevented if the Chinese contractor company CMC-XMC Consortium took proper safety measures,” said an official of Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Ltd (BCMCL).
Talking to reporters Hossain Monsur, chairman of Petrobangla, on Wednesday admitted that the accident happened due to technical glitches.
Sources said that the accident occurred at 1108 phase below 1,250 feet from the surface because it was too vulnerable to “Weight Bump” [sudden collapse] as this phase was surrounded by 1106, 1104 and 1110 phases, which remained vacated after coal extraction.
The 1110 phase has been sealed off since 2005 gas leakage accident after a partial coal extraction.
Expert said the three mine-out phases, which have no steel support are creating pressure upon the coal roof of 1108 phase making it highly vulnerable to “Weight Bump.”
Some miners said small scale coal drifting had been noticed repeatedly before the accident but the authorities did not pay heed to the warning.
They alleged that the BCMCL authorities used low quality timbers instead of steel support in the vacated phases.
Coal extraction from the mine has remained suspended since Tuesday causing a loss of Tk 2.75 crore a day, sources said.
A team of Chinese mine experts will arrive at BCMCL site within few days to address the faults.
“Coal production from the phase 1108 will start after correcting the defect,” said another official of BCMCL.
The mining experts said open pit mining is less vulnerable to any kind of casualties with high rate of coal recovery. It has some negative impacts including water crisis in the adjacent area.
Sources said BCMCL authorities recently submitted a project proposal of Tk 600 crore to the respective ministry to extract coal from its northern site with open case method.
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