As per the EIA Notification 2006, a detailed Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is carried out for each project by coal companies considering pre and post mining conditions for preparing EMPs which are discussed in details by the Environmental Appraisal Committee (EAC) of experts under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and accordingly Environment Clearance (EC) is granted by the MoEF&CC. While granting EC, MoEF&CC stipulates conditions/ mitigation measures for implementing the EMPs which have to be complied with by the project proponents. On obtaining EC, the Project Proponent also secures Consent to Establish (CTE) - one time and Consent to Operate (CTO) – periodic, under the provisions of Water and Air Acts from the concerned State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB).

Further, Ministry of Coal has established Sustainability & Just Transition (S&JT) Division to monitor the Sustainable Developmental Activities in the coal mines, like Bio-reclamation/plantation, adoption of Eco-friendly technologies etc.

In order to incentivize and promote green and clean coal technology, Govt. has created a separate auction window under NRS auction policy for coal gasification project and has also granted 50% rebate on revenue share for commercial coal block auction.

At present, there are 132 abandoned mines in CIL. Mine Closure Plans (MCP) of 50 mines are in place as per the Mine Closure guidelines 2020 issued by Ministry of Coal. Further, as per the Mine Closure guidelines issued by MoC in 2022, Final / Temporary Mine Closure Plans have been prepared for 67 mines and MCPs remaining 15 mines are under preparation.

In SCCL, total 10 no. of mines were abandoned / closed after nationalization till 2009. Reserves in 05 mines have been exhausted and Final Mine Closure Plan is under implementation.

Progressive closure activities have been undertaken / are being undertaken as per MCPs in the mines with approved MCP, which are abandoned. Mine closure fund as per the guideline are deposited in the dedicated escrow accounts for these mines for implementation of mine closure activities. Post closure of mines, environmental monitoring is being carried out by the project proponent for a period of 3 to 5 years as per the mine closure guidelines of 2020. The environmental impact of operating and abandoned mines is regularly monitored by MoEF&CC and SPCB.This information was given by Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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