Project managers and relevant parties in the construction of coal mines in central China's Henan Province will be held to account for major accidents in the mines in the next 50 years after the construction is completed, an official said.

"Besides insufficient safety equipment and improper operation, defects in the construction have also led to coal mine accidents," said the official with the province's coal industry bureau.

Despite the industry's growing awareness of safety, some companies started the construction of mines lacking detailed geological data or acting against legal procedures, according to the official.

The province will invest 3.85 billion yuan (US$481 million) in 45 coal mine projects this year. It is the first time that the province has made such a massive investment in the coal industry since 1949.

To further ensure coal mine safety, construction companies and relevant institutions and agencies will be under the close supervision of the bureau. Their licenses will be revoked, among other punishments, if they are found to violate rules.

(Xinhua News Agency March 28, 2006)