New Delhi (NVI): The Coal Ministry has decided to establish a ‘Sustainable Development Cell’ (SDC) to promote environmentally-sustainable coal mining in the country and address environmental concerns during the decommissioning or closure of mines.
The move assumes significance as new private entities are now going to form a significant part of the process to rehabilitate the mines in tune with global best practices, for which a set of guidelines need to be evolved.
“The Sustainable Development Cell envisages to address the environment mitigation measures in a systemic manner and to provide a better environment to people working and residing in the vicinity of mines,” an official statement said.
The SDC will advise, mentor, plan and monitor the mitigation measures taken by the coal companies for maximising the utilisation of available resources in a sustainable way, minimising the adverse impact of mining and mitigating it for further ecosystem services, the statement said.
It will act as nodal point at Ministry of Coal level in this matter.
This cell will also formulate the future policy framework for the environmental mitigation measures including the Mine closure Fund, the statement said.
The SDC will adopt a systemic approach,starting from collection of data, analysis of data, presentation of information, planning based on information; by domain experts, adoption of best practices, consultations, innovative thinking, site-specific approaches, knowledge sharing and dissemination and finally end with an aim to ease the lives of people and communities in general.
In India, approximately 2,550 sq kms of land is under different coal mines and there are also plans to bring more areas under it. These land masses require both extensive and intensive amelioration measures and will be carried out as per a procedure.
The coal companies would be advised on effective implementation of environmental mitigation measures, like water sprinkling, dust suppression methods and noise barriers.
The plan will suggest ways and also have innovative planning to storage, treatment and re-use of such water for drinking, irrigation, fisheries, tourism, industrial or any other sustainable purpose.
The cell will also check feasibility and suggest measures to reuse, recycle and rehabilitation of over burdened dumps in a sustainable manner.
It will examine and plan out use of overburdened material for use in different infrastructure projects, earthen bunds etc.
The plan will also include exploration and conceptualisation of the beautification and creation of eco parks in the reclaimed areas.
It will include water bodies etc., for re-creation activities and tourism purpose. It will also explore tourism potential and plan it out in few underground mines.
