1343 efficient mining technologies. This integrated approach reflects a deliberate transition from a complianceoriented environmental management model to a proactive, performance-driven sustainability framework that is consistent with evolving regulatory requirements and national climate commitments (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, 2020). Figure 86 – Production of Coal from Opencast Coal Mine and Underground Coal Mine during last ten years (MT) in India 2. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK Coal India Limited (CIL) has instituted a structured Environmental Management Framework (EMF) to ensure environmentally responsible mining operations while complying with statutory requirements and corporate sustainability commitments. The framework is grounded in adherence to national environmental regulations, including Environmental Clearance (EC), Forest Clearance (FC), and Consents to Operate issued by State Pollution Control Boards, in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Environmental planning under the EMF is operationalised through project-specific Environmental Management Plans (EMPs), which form an integral part of mine design, approval, and execution. These EMPs comprehensively address air and water quality management, noise and vibration control, waste and overburden handling, land reclamation, biodiversity conservation, and progressive mine closure. Measures such as concurrent backfilling, geo-technical stabilisation of overburden dumps, bio-reclamation, and largescale afforestation are systematically implemented to minimise land degradation and facilitate sustainable post-mining land use. Through these practices, environmental safeguards are embedded within routine mining operations rather than being confined to end-of-life mine closure activities. Operational controls constitute a key pillar of the EMF, with emphasis on pollution prevention, resource efficiency, and emission reduction. CIL has deployed fixed and mobile water sprinkling systems, surface miners, controlled blasting techniques, in-pit crushing and conveying (IPCC) systems, and energyefficient heavy earth-moving machinery to mitigate dust generation, reduce diesel consumption, and lower greenhouse gas intensity. Scientific mine water management forms an important component of environmental stewardship, with treated mine water being reused for industrial, domestic, and irrigation purposes. During FY 2023–24, CIL supplied 2,591.42 lakh kilolitres of treated mine water, benefiting approximately 11.62 lakh people across 857 villages, thereby contributing to water conservation and 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 46.408 44.35 41.831 42.504 40.481 32.211 33.183 34.848 34.331 31.858 592.822 613.518 633.569 686.214 690.393 683.872 745.027 858.342 963.495 1015.66 Production of Coal from UG and OC mines from Last 10 years (MT) Underground Opencast
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