The government's objective is to manage surface fires in 27 specific locations across 19 coal mines in Jharia, Jharkhand by the end of 2025, according to information provided to Parliament on Wednesday.

A number of coal mines in Jharia, Jharkhand have been experiencing persistent fires for several years due to unscientific mining practices that were conducted before coal mines were nationalized, stated Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi in a written response to the Lok Sabha.

According to the Jharia Master Plan that received approval in 2009, an estimated 37 million metric tons of high-quality prime coking coal has been lost due to these fires, the minister highlighted.

Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), a subsidiary of Coal India, is conducting regular surveys in collaboration with the National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC) in Hyderabad to identify surface fire areas. The most recent survey conducted in the 2020-21 period indicated that the surface fire area has been reduced to 1.8 square kilometers, distributed across 27 locations, Joshi stated.

"Of the 27 locations, fire management projects involving excavation are being implemented in 16 locations, while the remaining areas are being addressed through blanketing. It is anticipated that the surface fires at these sites will be brought under control by December 2025. These 27 locations fall within the purview of 19 coal mines," the minister added.

In the previous month, Minister Joshi visited the regions affected by underground coal fires in Jharia, situated in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district. He assured affected residents of proper rehabilitation and financial compensation.

A 2019 survey revealed that approximately 140,000 families reside within the areas impacted by coal fires in Jharia. Out of this total, 72,882 families lack proper authorization, while 32,064 families possess valid land documents.