45 Figure 3 – Environmental Management Framework of Coal India Limited 3. SUSTAINABLE MINING PRACTICES Sustainable mining practices emphasize minimizing land degradation and ensuring ecological restoration concurrently with mining operations rather than postponing remediation until mine closure. Concurrent backfilling, progressive reclamation, bio-reclamation, and geo-technical stabilization together form the foundation of sustainable land management in opencast mining. Concurrent backfilling utilizes overburden from active benches to refill mined-out voids, reducing external dump height, stabilizing terrain, and enabling early land restoration. Progressive reclamation restores exhausted pits and stabilized dumps alongside ongoing mining through reshaping, top-soiling, and vegetation, improving soil quality, reducing erosion, and enabling early post-mining land use. Bioreclamation enhances ecological recovery through native and nitrogen-fixing species, while geo-technical stabilization ensures slope stability, effective drainage, and long-term environmental and operational safety (Coal India Limited, 2025; Dhar et al., 2018; Ghose, 2004; Singh & Dhar, 2019). Table 1 – Key Sustainability Performance Indicators of CIL Environmental Indicator FY 2024–25 Performance Key Remarks / Scope Afforestation ~1,600 hectares Plantation undertaken on reclaimed mine land, overburden dumps, and non-forest lease areas using native and mixed species in compliance with EC and FC conditions. Land Reclaimed ~2,100 hectares Progressive reclamation through concurrent backfilling, slope stabilization, soil spreading, and bio-reclamation in line with MoEF&CC Mine Closure Guidelines. Mine Water Utilisation >2,600 lakh kilolitres Treated mine water reused for industrial, domestic, and irrigation purposes; benefited ~11 million people across ~850 villages, supporting water conservation and regional water security. Renewable Energy Capacity (Planned) ~3 GW (by 2027–28) Solar-led capacity expansion using reclaimed mine land, mine voids, and rooftops; supports long-term decarbonisation and India’s net-zero 2070 target.
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