In a significant move towards environmental sustainability, Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), under the guidance of the Ministry of Coal, have taken extensive measures to reclaim mined-out areas through afforestation and ecological restoration. This initiative aligns with the theme of World Environment Day 2024, “Our Land. Our Future. We are #GenerationRestoration,” emphasizing sustainable land management, desertification, and drought resilience.

The Ministry of Coal has released a comprehensive report titled “Greening Initiative in Coal & Lignite PSUs,” showcasing the efforts of these PSUs in transforming barren landscapes into thriving green areas. This initiative not only combats desertification and enhances drought resilience but also contributes to carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. The report highlights the significant role the coal sector can play in advancing land restoration and promoting environmental sustainability.

The report, compiled by CMPDI and the Sustainability & Just Transition Division of the Ministry of Coal, documents the extensive greening initiatives carried out by Coal and Lignite PSUs. These efforts include afforestation in both closed and active coal mines, transforming mined-out lands into forests, eco-parks, and eco-tourism sites. The data, validated through Remote Sensing Studies and on-site ground-truthing surveys, presents a comprehensive overview of land usage, reclamation projects, and plantation activities.

Key highlights from the report include:

• Green Cover Establishment: Coal/Lignite PSUs have established green cover spanning approximately 50,000 hectares in and around coal mining regions. This includes the biological reclamation of 29,592 hectares of de-coaled land, avenue plantations within mine leaseholds covering 12,673 hectares, and plantations outside mine leaseholds covering 7,735 hectares.
• Carbon Sink Potential: These collective efforts are estimated to create a carbon sink potential of approximately 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.
• Future Roadmap: The report outlines a roadmap for future plantation initiatives planned until the fiscal year 2029-2030, focusing on effective land reclamation and sustainable utilization of mining-degraded lands.

Secretary of the Ministry of Coal, Shri Amrit Lal Meena, commended the initiatives and expressed his anticipation that the report would encourage the adoption of innovative techniques such as seed ball plantation, seed casting via drones, and Miyawaki plantation by other entities within the coal sector. He highlighted that these efforts are crucial for increasing green cover and achieving India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tonnes by 2030.

This report underscores the consistent and earnest efforts of Coal/Lignite PSUs to mitigate the environmental impact of coal mining through ongoing reclamation and afforestation. It stands as the first comprehensive documentation of baseline data regarding greening efforts by these PSUs, setting a standard for future scientific investigations.

The “Greening Initiative in Coal & Lignite PSUs” report is available on the Ministry of Coal’s website, providing a blueprint for a more sustainable and eco-friendly future in coal mining regions.