On a mission to transform the philosophy of mine closure, India plans to scientifically close 147 coal mines over the next 2-3 years, said Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, in New Delhi. This ambitious target is part of the government’s vision for Viksit Bharat 2047, with Reddy describing scientific mine closure as a national priority. So far, 42 coal mines have been scientifically closed, including 33 in the last year alone. The Ministry of Coal has built a comprehensive ecosystem for mine closure, including the RECLAIM Framework, the SUVIKALP digital platform, and the ARTHA Framework. The Mine Closure Guidelines, 2025, prioritize people and sustainability, with 25 per cent of the approved mine closure cost earmarked for community development, creating an investment potential of nearly Rs 10,000 crore over the next decade. The government has also created a dedicated corpus of over $5 billion for scientific mine closure and progressive mine closure. Reddy announced the launch of ‘AAROH: Annual Report on Mine Closure’, highlighting the ministry’s commitment to environmentally responsible mining and socio-economic development of mining-affected regions. Reclaimed mine lands are being repurposed for renewable energy, eco-tourism, and sustainable livelihood generation. The Ministry of Coal has partnered with GIZ to combine Germany’s expertise with India’s scale and policy leadership, creating an Indian model of mine closure that integrates environmental protection and community participation. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh praised the Ministry of Coal for its progressive policies, stating that the successful closure of 42 coal mines demonstrates the potential for ecological restoration and sustainable community-centric initiatives.
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📰 Source: Mangalorean News