Parliament Question: Restoration of Abandoned Coal Mines

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 535 ANSWERED ON 22.07.2026 Restoration of Abandoned Coal Mines 535. Shri K C Venugopal: Adv Dean Kuriakose: Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state: (a) the number of discontinued and abandoned coal mines that have not undergone mandatory physical and biological-ecological restoration as per the 2022 mine closure guidelines, State-wise; (b) the number of fatal accidents, incidences of land subsidence and underground fires reported in and around these abandoned mines during the last three years; and (c) the details of specific actions taken by the Government to curb rampant illegal coal mining and theft, State-wise? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL & MINES (SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY) (a): A total of 147 mines [88 pre-2009 mines and 59 post-2009 mines] have been identified as abandoned, discontinued, or closed coal mines. The State-wise details are as under: - S.No State Number of abandoned, discontinued, or closed coal mines 1 Assam 06 2 Chhattisgarh 31 3 Jharkhand 22 4 Madhya Pradesh 61 5 Maharashtra 8 6 Odisha 5 7 Telangana 11 8 West Bengal 3 Total 147 Mine owners are required to undertake technical and biological reclamation, in accordance with approved mine closure plan. Till date, 43 mines have been scientifically closed in accordance with approved mine closure plans. (b): There are no fatal accidents, incidences of land subsidence or underground fires reported, in and around abandoned mines during the last three years. (c): Law and order being a State subject, the prevention of unscientific mining and coal theft rests primarily with State/District administration and most of powers to curb illegal mining or theft as per the MMDR Act, 1957 are conferred on officers of the State Governments concerned. 1At the same time, the Government of India has taken following steps to curb illegal mining: 1. Government launched a citizen-based reporting systems for illegal mining and coal theft as a mobile app namely "Khanan Prahari" and one web app Coal Mine Surveillance and Management System (CMSMS) in 2018 for reporting unauthorized coal mining activities so that suitable action on it can be taken. 2. The Ministry of Coal has issued notifications on 21.11.2025 & 01.07.2026 under Section 21(4) (to seize tools, equipment, vehicles, or any other things used to commit or facilitate the illegal activity), under Section 22 (Cognizance of offences), under Section 24 (Power of entry and inspection) and under Section 23B (Power of search) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Through these notifications, designated executives of Coal India Limited (CIL) and its subsidiaries, as well as officers of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have been empowered. 3. CIL and its subsidiaries, in coordination with the State Police and CISF security units, have deployed a multi-layered mechanism involving physical security, technological surveillance, intelligence gathering and enforcement actions to curb illegal activities. Raids are conducted by security personnel of CIL as well as joint raids with the law-and-order authorities of the concerned State Government. The Management of subsidiary companies of CIL lodges FIR with local Police Station to take necessary action against reported illegal mining. State/District administration take further action against the lodged FIR. 4. In addition to above, Coal companies have taken the following steps to check Illegal mining of coal: (i) Concrete walls have been erected on the mouth of the abandoned mines to prevent access and illegal activities in these areas. (ii) Surprise raids/checks being conducted jointly by security personnel and law and order authorities of the concerned State Government. (iii) Dumping of the overburden is being done on the outcrop zones. (iv) Installation of check-posts at vulnerable points. (v) Training of existing security/CISF personnel, refresher training and basic training of new recruits in security discipline for strengthening the security setup; (vi) Maintaining close liaison with the State authorities. (vii) Committee/task force has been constituted at different level (block level, sub-divisional level, district level, state level) in some subsidiaries of CIL to monitor different aspects of illegal mining. (viii) Security at coal dumps has been strengthened by fencing, proper illumination and round the clock guarding. ****** 2