**Summary:**
The Ministry of Coal is committed to promoting sustainable coal mining practices through its Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs): Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). These PSUs are implementing advanced technologies in both underground and opencast mines, including surface miners, xcentric rippers, continuous miners, and high wall mining. First Mile Connectivity projects are being utilized to reduce road transportation, while water sprinklers, fog cannons, wet drilling, and dust extractors are being employed to mitigate air pollution and control dust generation.
Bioreclamation and afforestation initiatives are being undertaken in accordance with approved Mining and Environmental Management Plans. Mined-out areas, overburden dumps, and disturbed lands are being reclaimed and afforested using scientific methods such as multitiered plantations, seed ball plantations, and drone-based seed casting. From FY 2019-20 to FY 2024-25, approximately 13,400 hectares of land have been brought under green cover through the planting of millions of saplings.
For FY 2025-26, CIL has set a production target of 537.92 million tonnes of coal from opencast mines and 23.63 million tonnes from underground mines using blast-free technologies. Furthermore, Coal and Lignite PSUs are targeting 2,800 hectares for plantation activities in and around coal and lignite mining areas during the same period.
This information was provided by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on August 11, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Coal: The Indian government ministry responsible for the coal sector.
Coal India Limited (CIL): A Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) involved in coal mining.
NLC India Limited (NLCIL): A Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) involved in coal and lignite mining.
Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL): A Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) involved in coal mining.
Mining and Environmental Management Plans: Plans for bioreclamation and afforestation in mining areas.
Shri G. Kishan Reddy: Union Minister of Coal and Mines.
Rajya Sabha: The Upper House of the Parliament of India, where a written reply was given.
Delhi: The location of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) where the information was posted.
Ministry of Coal
Sustainable Mining Practices and Environmental
Management
Posted On: 11 AUG 2025 2:50PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Coal is committed to promote sustainable coal mining practices. Coal and Lignite Public Sector
Undertakings (PSUs), namely Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), and Singareni
Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), have adopted sustainable mining practices. These include advanced
technologies for underground and opencast mines such as surface miner, xcentric rippers, continuous miner
and high wall mining. In addition, First Mile Connectivity projects to minimize road transportation, water
sprinklers and fog canons to mitigate air pollution, drills fitted with wet drilling and dust extractors have been
implemented to control the generation of dust.
These PSUs have also undertaken initiatives in bio-reclamation and afforestation as per the approved Mining
and Environmental Management Plans. Mined-out areas, overburden (OB) dumps and other disturbed lands in
and around mining areas are being progressively reclaimed and afforested. These PSUs are implementing
scientific reclamation methods, including multi-tiered plantations and the use of innovative techniques like
seed ball plantations and drones for seed casting. From FY 2019–20 to FY 2024–25, about 13,400 Ha of land
have been brought under green cover by these PSUs through the plantation of millions of saplings in and
around mining areas.
The adoption of advanced sustainable technologies in coal companies is an ongoing process. For the financial
year 2025–26, CIL has set a target of producing 537.92 million tonnes of coal from opencast mines and 23.63
million tonnes of coal from underground mines using blast-free mining technologies. Additionally, Coal and
Lignite PSUs have set a target of 2,800 hectares for plantation in and around coal and lignite mining areas
during the same year.
This information was given by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in
Rajya Sabha today.
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Shuhaib T
(Release ID: 2155005)