New Delhi: The Ministry of Coal has sought a ‘brief note’ from agencies engaged in preparing, assessing or undertaking coal mine closure plans in order to assess their capacity and capability to undertake such activities. “Interested agencies (QPs/MPPA or any other agency) having experience in Mine Closure are requested to submit brief note on their ideas on scientific ‘Mine Closure’ including their credentials on ‘Mine Closure’ activities,” said the Ministry of Coal in a notice dated November 6.
The ministry is planning to organise a workshop on coal mine closure in December. “Subsequently, the agencies may be required to make presentation at a workshop proposed to be conducted on ‘Mine Closure,’ tentatively during the first week of December 2023,” said the notice. Presentations can be sent by interested agencies to the ministry within 15 days of publishing the notice.
The Ministry of Coal has issued guidelines on mine closure. “With an objective to ensure appropriate and effective closure of coal mines within mine closure framework including environmental, social, re-purposing and other concerns, Ministry of Coal intends to undertake assessment of available capacity and capability of the agencies engaged in preparing, assessing or undertaking Mine Closure Plan or Activity,” it added.
Last month, Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi said that the government will announce a financial outlay for sustainable coal mining in India and to focus on green coal technology and scientific closure of coal mines. More than 300 abandoned coal mines in India need to be closed.