**Summary:**
The Ministry of Coal is actively promoting the utilization of treated mine water from Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) for drinking, irrigation, and industrial purposes. This initiative aligns with environmental and water conservation guidelines, adhering to 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 safe and effective utilization. Treated mine water intended for drinking undergoes rigorous quality control, including periodic testing 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 include sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. The Ministry is expanding mine water management initiatives across all coal and lignite mining states, with PSUs undertaking projects to utilize surplus mine water for domestic, irrigation, and industrial applications. This information was provided by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in Lok Sabha on July 30, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Coal: The Indian government ministry responsible for the coal sector.
Coal India Limited: A Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) promoting the utilization of treated mine water.
NLC India Limited: A Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) promoting the utilization of treated mine water.
Singareni Collieries Company Limited: A Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) promoting the utilization of treated mine water.
Environmental Protection Act, 1986: An Indian environmental law that guides the quality of treated mine water utilization.
Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974: An Indian law related to water pollution control, which guides the quality of treated mine water utilization.
Central Pollution Control Board: An Indian governmental organization that issues directives regarding treated mine water.
Bureau of Indian Standards: An Indian standards organization whose standards (BIS IS 10500:2012) are used to test treated mine water.
Ministry of Coal
Utilisation of Treated Mine Water
Posted On: 30 JUL 2025 3:55PM by PIB Delhi
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.
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.
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.
This information was given by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in
Lok Sabha today.
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Shahid T Komnath
(Release ID: 2150155)