27
* The Coal Mines Safety (Stowing) Amendment Bill
The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Labour Member): Sir, I move:
“That the Bill further to amend the Coal Mines Safety (Stowing) Act, 1939, be taken into consideration.”
Sir, this Bill seeks to make certain amendments to the Coal Mines Safety (Stowing) Act of 1939. As Honourable Members of the House will remember the Coal Mines Act was passed in 1939. It created a body called the Stowing Board. The function of the Board was principally to administer the fund which is raised by the levy on coal and coke and to spend it on the stowing of coal mines in order to prevent fires in the mines. In the course of the administration of this Act, it has been found that there are certain defects which need to be remedied. This Bill proposes to deal only with three of such questions because it has been found that they are the most urgent and need immediate attention. Of these three questions, the first question is the one which relates to the amendment of section 8. The House will remember that section 8 deals with the functions of the Board and prescribes the object on which the money arising out of this fund could be spent. Section 8 permits the Board to spend money to meet the expenses of the administration. Secondly, it allows the Board to grant stowing materials and other assistance to owners or agents and managers of coal mines for stowing operation. Section
3 permits the Board to execute other operations in furtherance of the objects of the Act, and fourthly, it permits the Board to spend money on research work connected with stowing. It has been found that section 8 does not make any provision for permitting the Board to spend money on stowing operations
*Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I, 23rd February 1944, pp. 443-46.