With figures like these, it is not surprising that the mine owners take that extra risk and try hard to cover up reports of NGOs like the Mines Labour Protection Council (MLPC) that at least two labourers are killed every week at these mines. Most mine owners have also cut through the support pillars of the mines, which has led to collapses and land giving way.

Laxmichand Punia, Senior Engineer, North West Railways, has filed a complaint against the owners of the mines that collapsed last week, but has little hope that an action would be taken.

“The North West Railways has filed several complaints with the Mines Department and the state government, but all in vain. They have not been able to limit the lease owners who have started underground mining, following which there is a fear that the land will give way anytime.”

He said some NGOs had also approached the courts, which on several occasions have taken a written undertaking from the mine owners that they would mine only in the demarked area but all that remains only on paper.

“In 1999, the High Court ordered the mine owners to deposit Rs 4 crore for relocating the railway line but they have failed to do even that,’’ he added.

Manoj Rajaram, son of Uparam Rajora who owns one of the mines which collapsed, said the mine collapsed because of loose sand under it. “We are not doing any illegal mining and neither there was any blast,’’ he said, refusing to say anything more.

... contd.