(1)At every mine where machinery is used, an engineer holding a degree or diploma in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mining machinery or equivalent qualification as may be recognised by the Central Government, shall be appointed to hold general charge of such machinery, and to be responsible for its installation, maintenance and safe working, who shall be subordinate to manager:Provided that where electrical energy exceeding 650 volts is used and the installed capacity of all electrical equipment is 1.5 MVA and above, an engineer holding a degree or diploma in electrical engineering or equivalent qualification as may be recognised by the Central Government, shall be appointed to hold charge of all the electrical equipment installed at the mine in addition to that specified above:Provided further that in case of opencast mines worked by heavy earth moving machinery or in any mechanised mine having belowground workings, in which the aggregate horse power of all the machinery used exceeds 1500, a person holding a degree or diploma in mechanical engineering, mining machinery or equivalent qualification as may be recognised by the Central Government, shall also be appointed to hold charge of all the mechanical equipment installed at the mine in addition to that specified above:Provided also that nothing in this sub-regulation shall be deemed to prohibit the employment of two or more engineers at one mine so long as the jurisdiction and sphere of responsibility of every such engineer is defined by the manager in writing.(2)Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-regulation (1), the Chief Inspector may, by an order in writing, specify any qualification in addition to those referred to in that sub-regulation in respect of a mine or class of mines, if having regard to the conditions existing in such mine or class of mines, he is satisfied that it is necessary to do so in the interests of safety.(3)No person shall act, or be appointed, as engineer of more than one mine except with the previous permission in writing of the Chief Inspector and subject to such conditions as he may specify therein:Provided that no such permission shall have effect for a period exceeding twelve months, unless renewed:Provided further that the Chief Inspector may at any time, by an order in writing, vary or revoke any such permission, if the circumstances under which the permission was granted, have altered or the Chief Inspector finds that the engineer has not been able to exercise effective supervision in the mines under his charge.(4)Where by reason of temporary absence by any cause, the engineer, appointed under sub-regulation (1) is unable to perform his duties, the manager shall authorise in writing a person whom he considers competent to act in his place:Provided that -(a)notice of every such authorisation shall be sent to the Regional Inspector forthwith;(b)no such authorisation shall have effect for a period in excess of thirty days except with the previous written consent of the Regional Inspector and subject to such conditions as he may specify therein; and(c)the Regional Inspector may by an order in writing, revoke any authority so granted.
