Parliament Question: Impact of Coal Transportation

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3156 ANSWERED ON 11.03.2026 IMPACT OF COAL TRANSPORTATION 3156. SHRI PRAVEEN KHANDELWAL: Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has assessed environmental and logistical impacts of coal transportation through densely populated urban corridors including Delhi-NCR and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether cleaner coal handling, covered transport and mechanised loading systems are being mandated and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether digital monitoring of coal logistics to reduce transit losses and pollution is being implemented and if so, the details thereof; (d) whether urban coal handling infrastructure is being modernised and if so, the details thereof; and (e) the steps taken by the Government to minimise environmental impact of coal logistics in urban areas? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL AND MINES (SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY) (a): Coal is transported through multiple modes, including railways. Indian Railways has issued directions to strictly follow pollution and environmental norms prescribed by the designated authorities of the Central and State Governments. To minimize pollution, Railway Zones have been advised to undertake protective measures such as the development of green belts, installation of dust screen walls/ wind barriers, and provision of water sprinklers at coal loading and unloading terminals. Further, Indian Railways has allowed an additional free hour for covering open wagons with tarpaulins during the loading of loose or bulk commodities, including coal, at all freight terminals to reduce dust emissions during transportation. (b): While granting Environmental Clearance (EC), certain Environmental safeguards/ mitigation measures such as strengthening of coal transportation roads, transportation of coal in covered trucks to avoid spillage of materials during transport, loading of wet coal onto wagons, deployment of mobile sprinklers along haul roads to control dust generated by truck movement and dumpers, construction of integrated Coal Handling Plant (CHP), use of mechanized coal loading system, etc. are stipulated for implementing the EMPs(Environmental Management Plans) which have to be complied with by the project proponents to control dust emissions due to coal transportation. Further, Consent to Operate (CTO) under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, issued by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB), also gives this condition for prevention of air pollution. (c): Digital monitoring systems are being deployed by coal companies to enhance transparency and efficiency in coal logistics. These include integration of dispatch and logistics data through enterprise digital platforms, GPS-based vehicle tracking systems, electronic weighbridges, CCTV surveillance at loading and dispatch points and real-time monitoring through internal digital dashboards like Koyla Shakti dashboard. Such systems help monitor movement of coal, improve operational efficiency and reduce the possibility of transit losses. (d): Coal handling and evacuation infrastructure in mining areas is being modernised through development of mechanised coal handling plants, rapid loading systems, and First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects, which facilitate mechanised loading and reduce manual handling of coal. These systems improve efficiency in coal evacuation and help minimise dust emissions during loading and dispatch operations. (e): To control the environmental impacts caused by coal mining, the Central Government has devised the process of Environment Impact Assessment, as a regulatory tool under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Under the said Act, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has notified the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, which deals with the process of granting Environmental Clearance (EC) after having comprehensive analysis of EIA reports prepared by the coal companies. The EIA for coal mining projects includes the assessment of impact on Air, Water, forest cover, and Biodiversity. EIA also includes specific mitigation strategies like dust suppression & water management systems, noise control measures, and green belt development plans to counter the environmental impacts of mining activities. *****