New Delhi: The Union Minister for Coal, Mines, and Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, has disclosed plans in the Rajya Sabha to augment the country's coal production to 1.5 billion tonnes by 2029-30, aiming to meet the burgeoning demand for coal.

The government's strategy involves prioritizing the enhancement of evacuation infrastructure through the implementation of new rail projects and mechanized coal loading via First Mile Connectivity (FMC) initiatives. These endeavours form part of a broader initiative geared toward scaling up domestic coal production and achieving self-reliance in the sector.

Ensuring compliance with environmental norms remains a crucial aspect of these developments. Before commencing any new mine or project, the government is obtaining requisite clearances from regulatory agencies such as Environmental Clearance (EC), Forestry Clearance (FC), Consent to Establish (CTE), and Consent to Operate (CTO). Additionally, securing a No Objection Certificate from the Central Ground Water Authority for groundwater extraction is mandatory for all mines before initiating operations.

Ongoing environmental monitoring, in adherence to EC, CTE, and CTO conditions, encompasses the surveillance of ambient air quality, effluent quality, noise levels, and groundwater. Reports on these parameters are regularly submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).

In tandem with these efforts, the government has initiated various measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions, including pollution control measures for air and water, noise pollution control, land reclamation, partnerships with expert agencies, third-party evaluations, and environmental performance indexing.

Several significant initiatives have been implemented to facilitate the augmentation of coal production. These encompass the establishment of a single window clearance system, amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 permitting captive mines to sell up to 50% of their annual production, deployment of mine developer and operator (MDO) mode for production, adoption of mass production technologies, and the auctioning of coal blocks to private companies and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) for commercial mining. Additionally, 100% foreign direct investment has been permitted in commercial mining.

In alignment with this initiative, Coal India Limited intends to amplify coal production by expanding existing mines (brownfield projects), inaugurating new mines (greenfield projects), and modernizing both underground (UG) and open-cast (OC) mines.