Ministry of Coal is committed to promote sustainable coal mining practices. Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), namely Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), have adopted sustainable mining practices. These include advanced technologies for underground and opencast mines such as surface miner, xcentric rippers, continuous miner and high wall mining. In addition, First Mile Connectivity projects to minimize road transportation, water sprinklers and fog canons to mitigate air pollution, drills fitted with wet drilling and dust extractors have been implemented to control the generation of dust.

These PSUs have also undertaken initiatives in bio-reclamation and afforestation as per the approved Mining and Environmental Management Plans. Mined-out areas, overburden (OB) dumps and other disturbed lands in and around mining areas are being progressively reclaimed and afforested. These PSUs are implementing scientific reclamation methods, including multi-tiered plantations and the use of innovative techniques like seed ball plantations and drones for seed casting. From FY 2019–20 to FY 2024–25, about 13,400 Ha of land have been brought under green cover by these PSUs through the plantation of millions of saplings in and around mining areas.

The adoption of advanced sustainable technologies in coal companies is an ongoing process. For the financial year 2025–26, CIL has set a target of producing 537.92 million tonnes of coal from opencast mines and 23.63 million tonnes of coal from underground mines using blast-free mining technologies. Additionally, Coal and Lignite PSUs have set a target of 2,800 hectares for plantation in and around coal and lignite mining areas during the same year.

This information was given by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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Shuhaib T