Joshi chairs meeting to review compliance of environmental norms by coal, lignite PSUs

• In consultation with coal/lignite PSUs, a roadmap has been drawn for plantation, mine water utilisation, development of eco-parks, energy efficiency measures etc, said the Coal Ministry
• Coal, lignite PSUs exploring use of LNG to reduce carbon footprint

New Delhi: Union Minister of Coal Pralhad Joshi chaired a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Coal in Parliament House on Wednesday to discuss the status of compliance of Environmental Norms by coal and lignite PSUs. Minister of State (MoS) for Coal Raosaheb Patil Danve also participated in the meeting. In his opening remarks, Joshi informed the committee members that mining operations in coal/lignite mines are carried out with due regard to safety, environment protection and sustainability. 

Environment Protection during mining activities is one of the key thrust areas of coal/lignite PSUs, which ensures that various statutory provisions prescribed in environmental rules and regulations are adhered to and appropriate environmental standards are maintained in and around mining areas.

'Govt monitoring environmental sustainability of coal mines'

Coal Secretary Anil Kumar Jain briefed the committee about the creation of a Sustainable Development Cell (SDC) in the ministry to advice, mentor, plan and monitor environmental sustainability of coal mines. He also informed the committee that the Ministry and coal/lignite PSUs have been preparing reports, booklets and videos on the status of environmental sustainability and best environmental practices. Also, 'Star rating of Mines' has been adopted to incentivise self-environmental compliances.

During the meeting, a presentation was made by the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Coal, during which it was informed that the status of environmental compliance of big mines is monitored by the Coal Secretary at intervals and the SDC cell also monitors the status at regular intervals. In consultation with coal/lignite PSUs, a roadmap has been drawn for plantation, mine water utilisation, development of eco-parks, energy efficiency measures etc. Initiatives have also been taken to explore use of LNG to reduce carbon footprint. Also, a programme for third party environmental audit of mines and ecological studies by engaging reputed institutions has been chalked out.

What is CIL doing to comply with environmental norms?

Coal India Ltd's (CIL) Director (Technical) Binay Dayal also made a detailed presentation on the compliance of environmental norms in CIL mines and said that coal mines are operating with various environmental permits and are complying with prescribed environmental conditions and norms. To mitigate the adverse impacts of mining, coal companies are implementing various pollution control measures and adopting environment friendly technologies such as Surface Miners/Rippers for blast-free extraction of coal/overburden (OB), First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects for minimising road transport of coal, installation of mist sprayer/fog canons, deployment of mechanical road sweepers etc. In addition, CIL is promoting various other sustainable practices to reduce carbon footprint of mining and for the welfare of the host community. CIL has planned to install 3,000 MW solar plants by 2023-24, which will meet their electrical power requirement. Subsidiaries of CIL are promoting mine tourism and developing ecological parks in and around coalfields. They are also recovering sand from overburden for gainful utilisation of waste and are supplying mine water after proper treatment to the nearby villagers for domestic as well as agricultural purpose.

"During discussion, all Committee Members appreciated the efforts being undertaken by the ministry and coal/lignite PSUs towards environment care and benefits of the society. The members acknowledged the good works, especially third-party audit, gainful utilisation of mine water, promoting renewables, mine tourism and OB-to-sand initiatives, and made valuable suggestions for further improvement in environmental management in mining areas," said the Coal Ministry. It was suggested by committee members that public representatives should be consulted more frequently by coal PSUs on issues like environment protection, social welfare and productivity.

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