105 Figure 1. NLCIL Group Overview Figure 2. NLCIL’s National Presence 4. Sustainable Mining and Safety Practices NLCIL deploys continuous mining systems using Bucket Wheel Excavator–Conveyor– Spreader (BWE–CS) technology a zero-emission technology, consistent with global best practices in large lignite operations. Advanced geological exploration, GIS-based modelling, drone surveys, and digital mine planning reduce uncertainty and improve resource recovery. Safety is embedded as a core operational value through Behaviour-Based Safety programmes, simulator-based operator training, proximity warning systems, automated fire detection and suppression, and app based alert systems aligned with DGMS regulations and international benchmarks. 5. Progressive Mine Closure and Creation of Self-Sustaining Ecosystems Progressive mine closure is integrated at the planning stage and implemented through a structured framework encompassing physical stabilisation, chemical soil and water conditioning, and biological reclamation. Since inception, over 2,800 hectares of mined land have been biologically reclaimed, supported by plantation of more than 33 million trees. Reclaimed areas are productively repurposed for agriculture, horticulture, water bodies, biodiversity zones, eco-parks, and large-scale solar power installations, enabling the transition from extraction landscapes to self-sustaining ecosystems. These practices are comparable in intent to post-lignite transition models in regions such as Germany’s Rhineland, adapted to Indian climatic and socio-economic conditions. Figure 3. Progressive Mine Closure Model Figure 4. NLCIL Progressive Mine closure Practice 6. Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0Mzk2