L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 717
152
*** Conservation of Coal in India**
- Mr. K. C. Neogy : (a) Has the attention of the Honourable Member for Labour been drawn to the observations on the question of conservation of coal in India made by Dr. H. K. Sen, Director, Indian Lac Research Institute, Namkum, Ranchi, and Chairman of the Fuel Research Committee of the Board of Scientific and Industrial Research, in the course of certain lectures delivered in December, 1943, at the Patna University ?
(b) Is it a fact that this question has from time to time been raised for the consideration of Government by different experts ? If so, what action has so far been taken by Government in this matter ?
(c) To what extent and in what manner has the larger utilisation of low grade coal, particularly on the part of the Railways, as suggested by Dr. Sen in his aforesaid lectures, been carried out or is proposed to be carried out in future.
(d) Are these questions being taken up for immediate consideration in view particularly of difficulties of the present coal position in the country ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) No.
(b) Yes.
(i) In 1939 the Government of India passed the Coal Mines Stowing Act. The Slowing Board has, by assistance given to voluntary stowing achieved considerable success in the conservation of high quality coal.
(ii) Under certain regulations under the Indian Coal Mines Regulations passed in 1939 restrictions were imposed on the dimension of workings which, apart from their safety value, have led to the conservation of coal.
( c ) Expert Combustion Engineers have been attached to the office of the Controller of Coal Distribution, one of whose duties will be to ensure that industries that can consume a lower grade of coal are not supplied with a higher grade. The assistance of Provincial Governments has been invited in conducting a survey of coal consuming factories
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central). Vol. I of 1944, 10th February 1944, pp.
203-4.