41 SUSTAINABLE MINING AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN COAL INDIA LIMITED Dr. Mukul Sharma1, Dr. Anjani Kumar2, Nisha Ranjan3 1 Sr. Manager (Mining), Coal India Limited (Presenting author: mukulsharma@coalindia.in) 2 Executive Director (Contracts), Coal India Limited 3 Manager (HR), Coal India Limited ABSTRACT Coal India Limited (CIL), the world’s largest coal producer, occupies a critical position in safeguarding India’s energy security while simultaneously operating under increasingly rigorous environmental and social expectations. As coal continues to constitute a dominant share of India’s primary energy mix, the sustainability performance of CIL carries far-reaching national and global significance. In this context, the present paper offers a comprehensive technical and quantitative evaluation of sustainable mining and environmental management practices adopted across CIL’s extensive opencast and underground mining operations, highlighting the evolving balance between resource security and environmental stewardship. The study systematically analyzes a wide spectrum of sustainability interventions, including concurrent backfilling, progressive land restoration, bio-reclamation and geotechnical stabilization of overburden dumps, advanced dust and emission control systems, scientific water and waste management, and the deployment of energy-efficient mining machinery. Pollution mitigation measures such as fixed and mobile water sprinkling, surface miners, in-pit crushing and conveying (IPCC) systems, and real-time environmental monitoring are evaluated for their effectiveness in reducing particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅) concentrations and improving ambient air quality, alongside assessments of mine water reuse, zero-liquid-discharge practices, and circular land-use planning within integrated environmental management frameworks. A key emphasis is placed on CIL’s transition toward low-carbon operations through the integration of renewable energy, including the utilization of reclaimed mine land and voids for large-scale solar and complementary wind energy projects, to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and support India’s net-zero ambitions. In parallel, the paper critically examines the role of ESG-driven governance and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in afforestation, healthcare, education, skill development, and sustainable livelihood creation. Overall, the findings indicate that robust environmental management systems, technological innovation, and transparent governance structures can enable large-scale coal mining enterprises to progressively advance sustainability objectives while continuing to ensure energy security.
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