116 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). 3. Methodology This study adopts a case-based analytical approach, integrating historical climatic records with recent operational and safety data from Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL). The methodology combines trend analysis, assessment, and operational impact evaluation to examine the influence of climate variability, particularly extreme monsoon events, on opencast mining safety and productivity. a) Data Collection • Ten years (2015–2024) of monthly rainfall data for the Singrauli region • Temperature data for 2024 sourced from NASA POWER • Coal production and dispatch records for the last five years • Monsoon preparedness plans and safety reports b) Analytical Framework • Trend analysis of rainfall and temperature variability • Correlation between rainfall extremes and operational disruptions • Assessment of safety and geotechnical risks triggered by extreme weather • Evaluation of preparedness measures versus actual climatic impact c) Data analysis Rainfall and temperature datasets were analysed using descriptive statistical methods and comparative trend analysis. Extreme rainfall events were identified based on deviations from longterm monthly averages. Operational impacts were assessed through comparison of production and dispatch records during normal and extreme monsoon periods.
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