44 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 large-scale 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 energy-efficient 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 community welfare in mining-affected regions. Monitoring, audit, and continuous improvement mechanisms provide the feedback loop for effective implementation of the EMF. Environmental performance is tracked through real-time ambient air quality monitoring stations, periodic water and noise quality monitoring, and satellite-based land-use assessment. Compliance assurance is achieved through internal and third-party environmental audits, statutory inspections, and periodic management reviews. Supported by stakeholder engagement, transparent disclosure, and gradual adoption of cleaner and renewable energy technologies, CIL’s Environmental Management Framework follows a Plan–Do–Check–Act approach, enabling continuous improvement and progressive transition towards sustainable and low-carbon mining operations. The Environmental Management Framework of Coal India Limited is depicted at Figure 3.
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