**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1830, addressed on July 30, 2025, the Ministry of Coal outlines its policies and guidelines regarding the sustainable and safe utilization of treated mine water. The Ministry, through Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), promotes the use of treated mine water for drinking, irrigation, and industrial purposes, adhering to environmental and water conservation guidelines. The quality of treated mine water is regulated by 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 and Lignite Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have established standard operating procedures to ensure the safe and effective utilization of treated mine water. To guarantee health and safety standards for drinking water, treated mine water is periodically tested by accredited laboratories according to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) IS 10500:2012, Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) guidelines, and other applicable standards. Treatment processes, including sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection, are implemented prior to distribution. Efforts are underway to expand mine water management initiatives across all coal and lignite mining states, with Coal/Lignite PSUs undertaking projects for the utilization of surplus mine water for domestic, irrigation, and industrial applications. The Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, provided this information.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Coal: The Indian government ministry responsible for coal and lignite production and regulation.
SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH: Member of LOK SABHA, who raised the question about utilisation of treated mine water.
SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY: The Minister of Coal and Mines, who provided the answer to the question.
Coal India Limited (CIL): A Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Coal.
NLC India Limited (NLCIL): A Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Coal.
Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL): A Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Coal.
Environmental Protection Act, 1986: An Indian law that provides a framework for environmental protection.
Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974: An Indian law focused on the prevention and control of water pollution.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COAL
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1830
ANSWERED ON- 30/07/2025
UTILISATION OF TREATED MINE WATER
1830. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:
Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:
(a) the policies and guidelines in place to ensure the sustainable and safe utilisation of treated
mine water for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes;
(b) the quality control measures being adopted to ensure that treated 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.
1(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) and (d) Efforts are being 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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