Coal PSUs scale up technology and reclamation; 13,400 ha greened in five years; FY26 targets include blast-free output and 2,800 ha of new plantations.
NEW DELHI (India CSR): In FY 2019–20 to FY 2024–25, coal and lignite PSUs brought about 13,400 hectares around mining areas under green cover. Mined-out land and OB dumps were reclaimed. Multi-tier plantations, seed-ball sowing, and drone seeding accelerated restoration. The drive strengthens local ecology and helps control dust.
The Ministry of Coal has underlined its commitment to sustainable mining across Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy detailed technology upgrades, pollution-control measures, and large-scale land reclamation. The push blends production efficiency with environmental safeguards and sets clear, time-bound targets for FY 2025–26.
Technology Driven Operations
Coal and lignite PSUs are standardising advanced, low-impact methods in both underground and opencast mines. Surface miners are being deployed to cut, size, and load coal in a single pass. They reduce drilling, blasting, and haulage steps. Xcentric rippers are improving selective excavation in hard strata. Continuous miners are enabling higher productivity and safer underground extraction.
High-wall mining is extending access to residual coal without full overburden removal. Together, these practices aim to shrink the disturbance footprint while improving output predictability. The emphasis is on blast-free or blast-minimal approaches that reduce vibration, noise, and fly-rock risks near habitations and sensitive receptors. The upgraded fleet and digitally monitored processes are intended to make production steadier, safer, and more compatible with environmental norms.
Pollution Control Measures
A parallel focus is on suppressing dust and lowering road traffic within mining belts. First Mile Connectivity projects are expanding rapid loading and conveyor-based evacuation to cut down on truck movement from pitheads. This limits fugitive emissions and congestion on local roads. Within mines, drills are being fitted with wet-drilling systems and dust extractors.
These reduce particulate matter at source. Water sprinklers and fog cannons are being used strategically on haul roads, stockyards, and transfer points. The playbook is preventive: capture dust where it forms and avoid dispersion. These actions dovetail with monitoring requirements under environmental clearances and consent conditions. They also improve working conditions for crews and reduce community exposure along logistics corridors.
Reclamation And Afforestation
Landscape restoration is proceeding as per approved Mining and Environmental Management Plans. PSUs are progressively reclaiming mined-out voids, stabilising overburden dumps, and treating other disturbed lands. Scientific reclamation is the norm: graded slopes, topsoil management, and native species selection. Multi-tiered plantations are being raised to mimic local forest structure and improve survival rates.
Innovative techniques are being scaled. Seed-ball broadcasting and drone-based seed casting are accelerating coverage on difficult terrain. Between FY 2019–20 and FY 2024–25, about 13,400 hectares have been brought under green cover around mining areas. Millions of saplings now buffer mine boundaries, haul roads, and backfilled pits. The outcome targeted is not just canopy growth but soil stability, moisture retention, and biodiversity support, measured through survival audits and third-party inspections.
Targets For 2025–26
The adoption of sustainable technologies continues into FY 2025–26. CIL has set production targets of 537.92 million tonnes from opencast mines and 23.63 million tonnes from underground mines using blast-free mining technologies. These targets reflect confidence in surface miners, continuous miners, and high-wall systems for safer, consistent output. In parallel, coal and lignite PSUs have earmarked 2,800 hectares for new plantations in and around operational and decommissioned sites during the year.
The plantation plan aligns with phased closure, dump stabilisation, and peripheral greenbelt expansion. With conveyor-led evacuation scaling up and dust-suppression systems embedded, the objective is a tighter coupling of production schedules with environmental performance. The Ministry has reiterated that compliance, monitoring, and progressive restoration remain integral to operations, not afterthoughts.
Key Data Summary
| Green cover added (FY 2019–20 to FY 2024–25) | ~13,400 ha | Reclamation across mined-out areas, OB dumps, and disturbed lands |
| FY26 plantation target (coal & lignite PSUs) | 2,800 ha | New plantations in and around mining areas |
| CIL FY26 opencast production target (blast-free methods) | 537.92 MT | Emphasis on surface miners and conveyor evacuation |
| CIL FY26 underground production target (blast-free methods) | 23.63 MT | Continuous miners and safer underground tech |
| Core technologies in use | Surface miners, xcentric rippers, continuous miners, high-wall mining | Lower blasting, higher selectivity, improved safety |
| Emission controls | Wet drilling, dust extractors, water sprinklers, fog cannons | Source suppression and corridor mitigation |
| Logistics upgrade | First Mile Connectivity (FMC) | Reduced road haulage, faster, cleaner evacuation |
(India CSR)
