Lok Sabha Question No. 1806 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-30
Subject: Green Initiatives by Coal PSUs
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Shri Vamsi Krishna Gaddam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1806

ANSWERED ON- 30/07/2025

## GREEN INITIATIVES BY COAL PSUs

## 1806.   SHRI VAMSI KRISHNA GADDAM:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a) the total allocation for environmental restoration and green initiatives across coal PSUs during  each  of  the  last  five  years  along  with  the  specific  funds  for  mining  operations  in Telangana, including Peddapalli;

(b) the current status of the 15,350 hectare plantation target set by Coal PSUs for Financial Years 2024-25 to 2028-30 along with the progress, area-wise;

(c) the criteria established for green  fund  allocation  among  coal  PSUs,  considering environmental parameters for intensive mining constituencies like Peddapalli;

(d)  the  measures  ensuring  coal  PSUs  comply  with  Accredited  Compensatory  Afforestation norms, particularly regarding afforested non-forest de-coaled land in Telangana; and

(e) the monitoring mechanism for green fund utilisation by PSUs and environmental impact assessment timelines in coal mining regions?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES

## (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) There is no fund or budget allocation from the Government of India for mining operations or environmental  restoration  and  green  initiatives  in  coal  mining  areas.  However,  Coal  and Lignite  Public  Sector  Undertakings  (PSUs),  namely  Coal  India  Limited  (CIL),  NLC  India Limited (NLCIL), and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), spend funds from their own  resources  for  mining  operations,  and  environmental  restoration  and  green  initiatives, which include mine reclamation, plantation, and eco-restoration measures. These allocations are  made  as  part  of  statutory  mine  closure  funds  as  per  approved  mine  closure  plans  and

environmental management funds in line with the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environment Management Plans (EMPs) of the respective projects. SCCL spends funds for its projects in Telangana, including those located in Peddapalli district as per approved projectspecific mine closure plans and environmental management plans.

- (b) Coal and Lignite PSUs have set a cumulative plantation target of 15,350 Ha for the period FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29. They have covered approximately 2,459 Ha land under plantation in and around coal and lignite mining areas during FY 2024-25. Year-wise targets of plantation for FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29, along with the achievements during FY 2024-25 are given in the table below:
- (c) There is no green fund or scheme established by the Government of India for coal mining projects.
- (d) Coal and lignite PSUs, including SCCL in Telangana, are identifying afforested non-forest land in their mines for use as compensatory afforestation in upcoming coal mining projects, in compliance with the Accredited Compensatory Afforestation (ACA) norms as outlined in the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on 24.01.2023.
- (e) In view of (c) above, the question does not arise. However, the Ministry of Coal monitors regularly the restoration and green initiatives of Coal and Lignite PSUs. Further, the timelines for EIAs are governed by the EIA Notification, 2006 and its subsequent amendments.

| Target vis-à-vis Achievement of Plantation (in Ha)   | Target vis-à-vis Achievement of Plantation (in Ha)   | Target vis-à-vis Achievement of Plantation (in Ha)   | Target vis-à-vis Achievement of Plantation (in Ha)   | Target vis-à-vis Achievement of Plantation (in Ha)   | Target vis-à-vis Achievement of Plantation (in Ha)   | Target vis-à-vis Achievement of Plantation (in Ha)   | Target vis-à-vis Achievement of Plantation (in Ha)   | Target vis-à-vis Achievement of Plantation (in Ha)   |
|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
| Financial Year                                       | Target                                               | Target                                               | Target                                               | Target                                               | Achievement                                          | Achievement                                          | Achievement                                          | Achievement                                          |
| Financial Year                                       | CIL                                                  | NLCIL                                                | SCCL                                                 | Total                                                | CIL                                                  | NLCIL                                                | SCCL                                                 | Total                                                |
| 2024-25                                              | 1,856                                                | 194                                                  | 550                                                  | 2,600                                                | 1,713                                                | 195                                                  | 551                                                  | 2,459                                                |
| 2025-26                                              | 2,097                                                | 197                                                  | 506                                                  | 2,800                                                | -                                                    | -                                                    | -                                                    | -                                                    |
| 2026-27                                              | 2,386                                                | 205                                                  | 509                                                  | 3,100                                                | -                                                    | -                                                    | -                                                    | -                                                    |
| 2027-28                                              | 2,585                                                | 206                                                  | 509                                                  | 3,300                                                | -                                                    | -                                                    | -                                                    | -                                                    |
| 2028-29                                              | 2,831                                                | 206                                                  | 513                                                  | 3,550                                                | -                                                    | -                                                    | -                                                    | -                                                    |
| Total                                                | 11,755                                               | 1,008                                                | 2,587                                                | 15,350                                               | -                                                    | -                                                    | -                                                    | -                                                    |

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