Executive Summary:
This document presents the Ministry of Coal's response to questions regarding green initiatives by Coal PSUs. It clarifies funding sources for environmental restoration, details plantation targets and achievements, addresses compensatory afforestation norms, and explains the monitoring mechanisms in place. The period of focus for plantation targets is Financial Years 2024-25 to 2028-29.
Key Points / Main Content:
Funding and Allocation:
* There is no direct fund or budget allocation from the Government of India for environmental restoration and green initiatives across coal PSUs.
* Coal PSUs (CIL, NLCIL, and SCCL) fund these activities from their own resources, as part of statutory mine closure funds and environmental management funds, according to approved mine closure plans, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), and Environmental Management Plans (EMP).
* SCCL allocates funds for projects in Telangana, including Peddapalli, based on project-specific mine closure and environmental management plans.
Plantation Targets:
* Coal and Lignite PSUs have a cumulative plantation target of 15,350 hectares for FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29.
* Approximately 2,459 hectares were covered under plantation in and around coal and lignite mining areas during FY 2024-25.
* Specific year-wise plantation targets and achievements for CIL, NLCIL, and SCCL are detailed in the provided table.
Green Fund and Compensatory Afforestation:
* There is no green fund or scheme established by the Government of India for coal mining projects.
* Coal and lignite PSUs are identifying afforested non-forest land for compensatory afforestation, complying with Accredited Compensatory Afforestation (ACA) norms based on MoEFCC guidelines issued on 24.01.2023.
Monitoring and Environmental Impact Assessments:
* The Ministry of Coal regularly monitors the restoration and green initiatives of Coal and Lignite PSUs.
* Timelines for EIAs are governed by the EIA Notification, 2006, and its subsequent amendments.
Impact Analysis:
Coal and Lignite PSUs (CIL, NLCIL, SCCL)
* Impact: These PSUs are responsible for funding and executing environmental restoration and green initiatives from their own resources, adhering to mine closure plans, EIAs, and EMPs. They must meet the plantation targets set for FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29 and comply with ACA norms.
* Action Required: PSUs need to allocate funds, implement plantation activities, identify land for compensatory afforestation, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL)
* Impact: SCCL is specifically responsible for allocating funds and implementing projects in Telangana, including those in Peddapalli, according to approved mine closure and environmental management plans.
* Action Required: SCCL must ensure that its projects in Telangana adhere to the specified environmental guidelines and contribute to the overall plantation targets.
Ministry of Coal:
* Impact: Responsible for monitoring the restoration and green initiatives undertaken by Coal and Lignite PSUs.
* Action Required: Continue regular monitoring of PSU activities and ensure compliance with EIA Notification, 2006.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC):
* Impact: Sets guidelines for Accredited Compensatory Afforestation (ACA) norms.
* Action Required: Ensure guidelines are followed by Coal and Lignite PSUs.
Key Entities Referenced
Coal India Limited (CIL): A Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) involved in coal mining operations and environmental initiatives.
NLC India Limited (NLCIL): A Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) involved in coal and lignite mining operations and environmental initiatives.
Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL): A Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) involved in coal mining operations, particularly in Telangana, and environmental initiatives.
Telangana: A state in India where SCCL conducts mining operations and environmental restoration projects, including in the Peddapalli district.
Peddapalli: A district in Telangana with intensive mining constituencies.
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA): A process used to assess the environmental impacts of coal mining projects.
Accredited Compensatory Afforestation (ACA): Norms outlined by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) regarding afforestation to compensate for deforestation due to mining projects.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC): The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental regulations and guidelines, including those related to compensatory afforestation.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COAL
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1806
ANSWERED ON- 30/07/2025
GREEN INITIATIVES BY COAL PSUs
1806. SHRI VAMSI KRISHNA GADDAM:
Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:
(a) the total allocation for environmental restoration and green initiatives across coal PSUs
during each of the last five years along with the specific funds for mining operations in
Telangana, including Peddapalli;
(b) the current status of the 15,350 hectare plantation target set by Coal PSUs for Financial
Years 2024-25 to 2028-30 along with the progress, area-wise;
(c) the criteria established for green fund allocation among coal PSUs, considering
environmental parameters for intensive mining constituencies like Peddapalli;
(d) the measures ensuring coal PSUs comply with Accredited Compensatory Afforestation
norms, particularly regarding afforested non-forest de-coaled land in Telangana; and
(e) the monitoring mechanism for green fund utilisation by PSUs and environmental impact
assessment timelines in coal mining regions?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a) There is no fund or budget allocation from the Government of India for mining operations or
environmental restoration and green initiatives in coal mining areas. However, Coal and
Lignite Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), namely Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India
Limited (NLCIL), and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), spend funds from their
own resources for mining operations, and environmental restoration and green initiatives,
which include mine reclamation, plantation, and eco-restoration measures. These allocations
are made as part of statutory mine closure funds as per approved mine closure plans and
1environmental management funds in line with the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and
Environment Management Plans (EMPs) of the respective projects. SCCL spends funds for its
projects in Telangana, including those located in Peddapalli district as per approved project-
specific mine closure plans and environmental management plans.
(b) Coal and Lignite PSUs have set a cumulative plantation target of 15,350 Ha for the period
FY 2024–25 to FY 2028–29. They have covered approximately 2,459 Ha land under plantation
in and around coal and lignite mining areas during FY 2024-25. Year-wise targets of plantation
for FY 2024–25 to FY 2028–29, along with the achievements during FY 2024-25 are given in
the table below:
Target vis-à-vis Achievement of Plantation (in Ha)
Target Achievement
Financial Year
CIL NLCIL SCCL Total CIL NLCIL SCCL Total
2024-25 1,856 194 550 2,600 1,713 195 551 2,459
2025-26 2,097 197 506 2,800 - - - -
2026-27 2,386 205 509 3,100 - - - -
2027-28 2,585 206 509 3,300 - - - -
2028-29 2,831 206 513 3,550 - - - -
Total 11,755 1,008 2,587 15,350 - - - -
(c) There is no green fund or scheme established by the Government of India for coal mining
projects.
(d) Coal and lignite PSUs, including SCCL in Telangana, are identifying afforested non-forest
land in their mines for use as compensatory afforestation in upcoming coal mining projects, in
compliance with the Accredited Compensatory Afforestation (ACA) norms as outlined in the
guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
on 24.01.2023.
(e) In view of (c) above, the question does not arise. However, the Ministry of Coal monitors
regularly the restoration and green initiatives of Coal and Lignite PSUs. Further, the timelines
for EIAs are governed by the EIA Notification, 2006 and its subsequent amendments.
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