1389 operational experience, Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) has developed a structured monsoon management framework aimed at sustaining uninterrupted coal production and dispatch to thermal power stations, thereby supporting continuous electricity generation. However, recent climate-induced shifts in monsoon behaviour have increasingly tested the effectiveness of these conventional preparedness measures, necessitating a reassessment of existing safety and planning methodologies. Given the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-induced hydrological extremes, evaluating the preparedness and operational resilience of major coal mining enterprises has become critically important. In this context, the present study examines the impact of climate change-induced rainfall extremities on opencast mining operations through a case study of Northern Coalfields Limited, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited. The extreme monsoon of 2024 is analysed as a representative event that exposed significant operational and safety vulnerabilities despite extensive pre-monsoon preparedness measures. The study highlights the limitations of conventional mine planning approaches based on historical climatic averages and standard drainage assumptions, which are increasingly inadequate under evolving climatic conditions. Although evidence of climate-driven hydrological extremes is growing, limited research has assessed their direct implications for large-scale Indian opencast coal mining systems. By analysing the operational disruptions experienced during the 2024 monsoon in NCL, the study seeks to bridge this gap and evaluate the adequacy of existing preparedness frameworks, while emphasizing the need for adaptive, climateresilient, and data-driven mine safety and operational strategies to address increasing climatic variability. 2. NCL - A BEACON OF EXCELLENCE IN COAL MINING AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY The Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), established in 1985, is a flagship subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), plays a vital role in India's coal mining sector. Headquartered in Singrauli, NCL operates across two key coalfields: the Main Basin (covering 1890 sq. km) and the Moher Sub-basin (spanning 312 sq. km). Over the years, NCL has seen an exceptional growth trajectory, scaling its coal production from 13.60 million tonnes (MT) in 1986-87 to an impressive 139 MT in 2024-25. Presently, the company contributes approximately 10% to India's total power generation, with 89% of its coal dispatched directly to the power sector. This strategic positioning underlines NCL’s critical role in ensuring uninterrupted coal supply to thermal power plants across the nation. To support this large-scale production, NCL operates an extensive and technologically advanced mining infrastructure that includes 23 giant draglines, 1200 heavy earth-moving machines (HEMM), and high-capacity shovel-dumper systems comprising 20 CuM shovels and 190T dumpers. Its robust transportation network, particularly the eco-friendly Merry-Go-Round (MGR) system, is equally impressive—accounting for 45% of its coal dispatch. Overall, 84% of its coal is transported via sustainable channels including rail (43%), MGR (39%), and belt pipe conveyors (2%) (Northern Coalfields Limited, 2024). Despite having only 6% of CIL’s workforce, NCL contributes 18% to its coal production, 26% to overburden removal, and 25% to composite production (coal + overburden), thanks to both technological efficiency and a skilled, committed workforce (Northern Coalfields Limited, 2024). Alongside operational performance, NCL maintains a strong commitment toward environmental stewardship. During 2024–25, the company reclaimed approximately 386.02 hectares of overburden (OB) dump areas through biological reclamation methods and planted more than 0.875 million saplings. To date, NCL has reclaimed a cumulative area of 4177.166 hectares and planted approximately 28.2 million saplings, underscoring its long-term commitment toward minimizing the ecological impact of its mining operations (Northern Coalfields Limited, 2024).
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