Parliamentary panel recommends easing clearances for underground coal mining projects

A parliamentary panel recommended simplifying policy and standardized protocols for permitting underground coal mining; He said the complex clearing process, similar to large open-pit mines, had led to delays in projects with low environmental impact.

The government has set a target of producing 100 million tonnes (MT) of coal from underground coal mines by 2030.

Underground coal mining minimizes surface degradation, protecting land, forests and infrastructure while reducing land reclamation costs and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. This method also allows access to high-quality, deep reserves and enables year-round operations regardless of weather conditions, the Standing Committee on Coal, Mines and Steel said in a report.

“Despite the low environmental impact, many UG projects go through the same clearance and certification processes as large open-pit coal mines and are therefore reported to face delays. The committee therefore highlights the need for policy simplification and standardized protocols for UG coal mining practices in India.” he said.

Underground mines (UG), underground coal gasification (UCG) projects and pilot projects based on clean coal technology represent special categories of coal sector initiatives that offer significant environmental and operational advantages.

The panel also recommended exploring the feasibility of introducing a standard terms of reference (ToRs) and standard operating procedures (SOPs) on a single-window cleaning system for open-pit mining, in line with similar provisions for underground mines.

The Ministry of Coal had previously announced that it was introducing a series of transformative policy measures aimed at promoting underground coal mining. These bold reforms address traditional challenges such as high capital investment and longer gestation periods, and reaffirm the government’s commitment to modernizing the coal ecosystem in line with a broader vision of sustainable development.