**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer provided by the Minister of Coal and Mines to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No-1886, answered on 11.02.2026, regarding the utilization of treated coal mine water. It outlines policies, guidelines, quality control measures, and expansion efforts related to the use of treated coal mine water for drinking, irrigation, and industrial purposes. The Ministry of Coal, through its PSUs, is actively promoting the utilization of treated water in alignment with environmental and safety standards.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Utilization Policies and Guidelines:**
* The Ministry of Coal promotes the use of treated mine water for drinking, irrigation, and industrial purposes through its Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), including Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).
* The utilization is guided by environmental and water conservation guidelines.
* Compliance is ensured through the Environmental Protection Act, 1986, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and directives from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).
* Coal/Lignite PSUs have established standard operating procedures for safe and effective utilization.
* **Quality Control for Drinking Water:**
* To ensure treated mine water for drinking meets health and safety standards, continuous quality control measures are implemented.
* Treated water is periodically tested by accredited laboratories according to standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS IS 10500:2012) and the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
* Treatment processes like sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection are applied before supply.
* **Mine Water Management Expansion:**
* Continuous efforts are made to expand mine water management initiatives across all coal and lignite mining states.
* Coal/Lignite PSUs have undertaken projects for gainful utilization of surplus mine water for domestic, irrigation, and industrial purposes.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Coal and Lignite PSUs (CIL, NLCIL, SCCL)**
* **Impact:** These PSUs are responsible for implementing policies and guidelines for the utilization of treated mine water. They must adhere to quality control standards and environmental regulations.
* **Action Required:** Implement standard operating procedures, ensure water quality testing, and undertake projects for the beneficial use of surplus mine water.
**Stakeholder: Local Communities/General Public**
* **Impact:** Access to treated mine water for drinking, irrigation, and industrial use. Health and safety are paramount with rigorous testing according to set standards.
* **Action Required:** Benefit from the availability of treated water resources.
**Stakeholder: Regulatory Bodies (CPCB, SPCBs, BIS, CGWA)**
* **Impact:** Ensuring compliance with environmental protection and water quality standards.
* **Action Required:** Monitor and enforce regulations regarding the utilization of treated mine water.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Coal: The primary ministry responsible for promoting the utilization of treated mine water.
Environmental Protection Act, 1986: Law providing provisions to guide the quality of treated mine water.
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974: Law providing provisions to guide the quality of treated mine water.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): Issues directives that guide the quality of treated mine water.
Coal India Limited (CIL): Public Sector Undertaking promoting the utilization of treated mine water.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COAL
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1886
ANSWERED ON- 11.02.2026
UTILISATION OF TREATED COAL MINE WATER
1886. SHRI BASAVARAJ BOMMAI:
Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:
(a) the policies and guidelines in place to ensure the sustainable and safe utilization of treated coal
mine water for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes;
(b) the quality control measures being adopted to ensure that treated coal mine water supplied for
drinking purposes meets the necessary health and safety standards;
(c) whether any national-level frameworks are being developed to expand mine water management
initiatives across all mining States; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a). The Ministry of Coal, through its Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), namely
Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), and Singareni Collieries Company
Limited (SCCL), has been promoting the utilization of treated mine water for drinking, irrigation,
and industrial purposes in alignment with relevant environmental and water conservation
guidelines. The quality of treated mine water for gainful utilization is guided by the provisions of
the Environmental Protection Act, 1986, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,
1974, and directives issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and respective State
Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs). Additionally, Coal/Lignite PSUs have formulated their own
standard operating procedures to ensure the safe and effective utilization of treated mine water for
various purposes.
(b). To ensure that the treated mine water supplied for drinking purposes meets health and safety
standards, various quality control measures are undertaken, including treated mine water is tested
periodically by accredited laboratories as per the parameters prescribed by the Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS IS 10500:2012), Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) and any other
applicable standards. Adequate treatment processes such as sedimentation, filtration, and
disinfection are applied before supply.
(c) & (d). Continuous efforts are made to expand mine water management initiatives across all
coal and lignite mining states. Coal/Lignite PSUs have undertaken projects for gainful utilization
of surplus mine water for domestic, irrigation and industrial purposes.
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