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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COAL
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1807
ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE OF COAL MINES
1807 SMT. RAJANI ASHOKRAO PATIL:
Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:
(a) number of coal mines operating without full environmental clearances;
(b) violations reported relating to land water and forest norms;
(c) penalties imposed and remedial measures undertaken; and
(d) reasons for environmental safeguards appearing diluted despite repeated assurances of
sustainable mining ?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL AND MINES
(SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY)
(a) Coal mining projects are covered under the EIA Notification, 2006 issued by the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the provisions of the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986. As per the extant regulatory framework, prior Environmental Clearance
(EC) is mandatory before commencement of any new coal mining project, as well as for
expansion or modernization beyond the prescribed threshold limits.
In view of the above statutory provisions, coal mines are not permitted to operate without
obtaining requisite Environmental Clearance.
(b) &(c) Environmental non-compliances relating to land and water are dealt with under
Sections 5, 15 and 19 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 read with Rule 4 of the
Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986. The action is guided by the Standard Operating
Procedure (SoP) issued vide Office Memorandum dated 25.11.2022 for post-environmental
clearance monitoring and compliance, which prescribes a structured mechanism including
seeking clarification, issuance of Show Cause Notice and concluding action. Further, State
Pollution Control Boards are empowered to take remedial and penal action in cases of violation
of Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate conditions in accordance with the Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Water (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1974.
The State Government implements the provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan)
Adhiniyam, 1980 in accordance with the statutory provisions provided in the Adhiniyam and
1Rules and Guidelines issued under the Adhiniyam. In case any violation over forest area is
reported, matter is to be dealt as per the provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan)
Adhiniyam, 1980 and Rules made thereunder.
(d) Environmental safeguards governing coal mining activities have not been diluted. Coal
mining projects operate within a comprehensive regulatory framework under the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the concerned State regulatory
authorities. Prior to the commencement of any new or expansion coal mining project,
Environmental Clearance (EC) is mandatorily obtained in accordance with the EIA
Notification, 2006. This process requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) and an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to identify potential
environmental impacts and prescribe mitigation measures. ECs are granted with general as well
as project-specific conditions aimed at minimizing adverse environmental impacts.
In addition, MoEF&CC has notified environmental standards for coal mines, and compliance
is monitored by the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees
(PCCs), which regulate industrial activities through the grant of Consent to Establish (CTE)
and Consent to Operate (CTO) under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Further, coal companies have been adopting several initiatives to strengthen sustainable mining
practices. These include alignment with the Sustainable Development Framework for the coal
sector, implementation of Progressive Mine Closure Plans with concurrent reclamation,
enhancement of green cover beyond statutory requirements, water stewardship measures such
as mine water reuse and groundwater recharge, and integration of renewable energy within
mining infrastructure.
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