**Executive Summary**
The document addresses a parliamentary question regarding pollution caused by coal mines in Hazaribagh and Ramgarh, Jharkhand, and the steps taken to mitigate environmental impacts, strengthen safety measures, and prevent illegal mining. The Ministry of Coal outlines measures mandated for responsible coal mining, including environmental clearances, pollution control, safety campaigns, and technological interventions. The Ministry has launched the Khanan Prahari mobile application and the Coal Mine Surveillance and Management System (CMSMS) web portal to curb illegal mining. The measures will be effective on 10.12.2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Environmental Responsibility and Pollution Control:**
* Coal mining projects must obtain Environmental Clearance (EIA Notification, 2006) and Forest Clearance (Forest Conservation Act, 1980).
* Consent to Operate is required from State Pollution Control Boards under the Air and Water Acts.
* State Pollution Control Boards oversee compliance with emissions/effluent standards.
* Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) are being installed.
* Coal companies in Hazaribagh and Ramgarh conduct safety campaigns and use dust suppression methods (sprinklers, fog canons), PCC roads, tarpaulin-covered transport, green belts, and dust screens.
* Technological interventions like First Mile Connectivity, SILO loading, belt conveyors, and surface miners are implemented.
* Reclamation, multi-species plantation, Miyawaki plantation and development of eco-parks are underway.
* **Illegal Mining Prevention:**
* Illegal mining occurs mainly in abandoned mines in remote areas and is a state subject.
* The Central Government launched the Khanan Prahari mobile app and CMSMS web portal for reporting illegal mining.
* Designated officers are authorized to file complaints, conduct searches and inspections, and prosecute offenders under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
* Coal India Limited uses drone-based surveillance, Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCC) with CCTV, GPS, Vehicle Tracking Systems, and RFID devices for round-the-clock monitoring.
* Other measures include surprise checks, 24x7 patrolling, FIRs, coordination with district police, public awareness campaigns, check-posts, concrete sealing of abandoned mines, overburden dumping, and trenching.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Coal Companies Operating in Hazaribagh and Ramgarh**
* **Impact:** Increased compliance requirements for environmental protection and safety, adoption of new technologies, and adherence to monitoring and reporting protocols.
* **Action Required:** Implement environmental protection measures, conduct safety campaigns, adopt technological interventions, and comply with monitoring and reporting requirements.
**Stakeholder: Residents of Hazaribagh and Ramgarh**
* **Impact:** Potential improvement in air and water quality due to stricter environmental regulations and monitoring, enhanced safety due to campaigns and preventative measures.
* **Action Required:** Report illegal mining activities via the Khanan Prahari app or CMSMS portal.
**Stakeholder: State/District Administration**
* **Impact:** Primary responsibility for addressing illegal mining, increased coordination with Central Government and Coal India Limited.
* **Action Required:** Enforce laws and regulations related to illegal mining, collaborate with Central Government and Coal India Limited on monitoring and prevention efforts.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Coal: The primary government entity responsible for overseeing coal mining and addressing pollution and illegal mining issues.
Khanan Prahari: A mobile application launched by the Ministry of Coal to enable reporting and monitoring of illegal mining activities.
Coal Mine Surveillance and Management System (CMSMS): A web portal used for reporting illegal mining incidents.
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957: The legal framework under which the Central Government authorizes officers to take action against illegal mining.
Jharkhand: The state where Hazaribagh and Ramgarh are located, where the mitigation of environmental impacts of coal mines is focused.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COAL
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1734
TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025
Pollution caused by Mines
1734. Shri Manish Jaiswal:
Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to launch new plans to mitigate the environmental
impacts (dust pollution, degradation in air quality and water level) caused by coal mines in
Hazaribagh and Ramgarh in Jharkhand;
(b) the steps being taken by the Government to strengthen safety and health measures for people
living near such coal mines; and
(c) the new techniques or monitoring systems being implemented to check illegal mining?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a) and (b): The Ministry of Coal is committed to ensuring environmentally responsible coal
mining. Coal mining projects are mandated to obtain prior Environmental Clearance under the
EIA Notification, 2006; Forest Clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, wherever
applicable; and Consent to Operate from the State Pollution Control Board under the provisions
of Air (Prevention and Control of Air Pollution) Act, 1981 and Water (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Act, 1974. State Pollution Control Boards oversee the compliance of emissions/
effluent standards. In order to monitor the continuous air quality of project site in coal mines,
Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) are being installed.
Coal companies having mining operations in Hazaribagh and Ramgarh, undertake safety
campaigns in mines for enhancing safety awareness amongst employees and nearby
villagers. The measure taken by coal companies include extensive dust suppression through
mobile/mist sprinklers, fog canons, construction of PCC roads; tarpaulin-covered coal
transport; development of green belts and dust screens. Technological interventions such as
First Mile Connectivity projects, SILO loading systems, belt conveyors, and introduction of
surface miners have significantly reduced environmental footprints. Large-scale reclamation,
multi-species plantation, Miyawaki plantation and development of eco-parks in Barkasayal and
Hazaribagh areas are being carried out to restore ecological balance.
(c) Illegal mining of coal is reported to be carried out mainly from abandoned mines, shallow
coal seams, situated at remote/ isolated places from the mines and are scattered over a large
area. These are law & order problems, which is a State subject and, hence, primarily falls under
the domain of the State/District administration.
However, Central Government has adopted several measures to strengthen monitoring and
prevention of illegal coal mining. The Ministry of Coal has launched the Khanan Prahari-2-
mobile application and the Coal Mine Surveillance and Management System (CMSMS) web
portal, which enable citizens and authorities to report illegal mining incidents in real
time. Under the provisions of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957,
the Central Government has recently authorized designated officers for exercising powers
related to filing of complaints before a court of law and prosecution, search, inspection, and
examination of persons and documents, etc., concerning illegal mining and other offences
under the Act.
Coal India Limited, through its subsidiary companies, is taking various measures to check
illegal mining of coal. Surveillance has been strengthened by deploying drone-based
monitoring systems to identify illegal activity both within and outside leasehold areas.
Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCC) have been established for round-the-clock
monitoring using continuous feeds from CCTV, GPS, Vehicle Tracking Systems, and RFID
devices. Regular surprise checks, 24×7 patrolling, filing of FIRs, coordination with district
police and public awareness initiatives in nearby villages are also being carried out to deter
illegal mining and coal theft effectively. Check-posts have been set up at vulnerable points,
and physical preventive measures such as concrete sealing of abandoned mine openings,
overburden dumping in outcrop zones, and trenching along mine peripheries are undertaken to
restrict unauthorized access.
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