(1)The owner, agent and manager of every mine, in consultation with a scientific and research organisation having experience and expertise in Strata Control, Rock Mechanics and Instrumentation, shall prepare, formulate and implement a Strata Control and Monitoring Plan (SCAMP) based on the geotechnical data, information and the method of development and extraction of coal or the excavation required therefor, which shall be approved in writing by the Chief Inspector and subject to such conditions as he may specify therein.(2)The owner, agent or manager of every mine shall formulate a support plan to secure the roof and sides of belowground workplaces, which shall be subject to revision with change in condition, for all working belowground.(3)The owner, agent or manager of every mine having working below ground shall, before commencing any operation frame, with due regard to the engineering classification of strata, local geological conditions, system of work, mechanisation, and past experience, and enforce the support plan specifying in relation to each working place the type and specifications of supports and the intervals between:(i)supports on roadways including places where machinery is used for cutting, conveying or loading;(ii)each row of props, roof bolts or other supports;(iii)adjacent props, roof bolts or other supports in the same row;(iv)last row of supports and the face;(v)powered supports;(vi)fore-poles or sprags;(vii)shields; and(viii)the pack and the face:Provided that in respect of a mine where development operations are already in progress, the support plan shall be framed and enforced within 30 days of the date of coming into force of these regulations.(4)The manager shall, at least 30 days before the commencement of any operation other than in respect of a mine where development operations are already in progres, submit a copy of the support plan to the Regional Inspector who may at any time, by an order in writing, require such modification in the plan as he may specify therein.(5)The Manager shall hand over copies of the support plan in English as well as in a local language understood by majority of the persons employed in the mine together with illustrative sketches, to all supervisory officials concerned including the assistant manager and shall also post such copies at all conspicuous places in the mine.(6)The manager and such supervising officials shall be responsible for securing effective compliance with the provisions of the support plan, and no mine or part of a mine shall be worked in contravention thereof.(7)The support plan shall include interalia, system of, monitoring of the support performance, measurement of strata behaviour, re-setting of supports, provision of temporary support, replacement of old supports, withdrawal of supports and clearing of falls of ground.(8)The support plan shall also include the implementation strategy of the plan, training and inspection and supervision policies.(9)The owner, agent or manager shall formulate and implement a code of standing orders specifying -(a)the system and the organisation for procurement and supply of supports of suitable material, adequate strength and in sufficient quantity where these are required to be readily available for use;(b)the method of handling including dismissing and assembling where necessary and transportation of the supports from the surface to the face and from the face line to their new site;(c)the system and the organisation for maintenance and checking of supports, dressing the roof and side, erecting, examining and re-tightening of supports and re-erecting dislodged supports, including the use of appropriate tools;(d)the panel of competent persons for engagement as substitutes in the event of a regular supportsman or dresser absenting from duty; and(e)the manner of making all concerned persons such as loaders, dressers, supportsmen, shortfirers, sirdars, overmen and assistant managers including persons empanelled for engagement as substitute supportsman or dresser fully conversant with the support plan and the Codes of Standing Orders under this sub-regulation and under regulation 128 and the nature of work to be performed by each in that behalf.
