Coal Mine Water Benefitting 18 Lakh People Of 900 Villages: Govt

Coal mine water discharged from the operational mines as well as water available in abandoned mine voids of coal and Lignite PSUs are benefitting approximately 18 lakh people living in about 900 villages in the proximity of coal mining areas, the government said on Friday (13 January).

"During the current fiscal, coal/lignite PSUs planned to supply around 4000 LKL (Lakh Kilo Litre) of mine water for community use of which 2788 LKL has been supplied till December 2022.  From this 881 LKL has been used for domestic purposes including drinking," the Coal Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added that the beneficiaries of mine water are mainly tribal people and those living in remote areas.

The development comes after the Coal Ministry directed the coal and lignite PSUs to take steps for conservation and efficient use of mine water by supplying the same in their command areas for community usages such as drinking and irrigation.

Further, in 2022-23, state-owned Coal India Ltd has already surpassed its annual plantation target of 1,510 hectares by expanding its green cover to 1,600 hectares ending December of FY23l, the ministry said.

CIL has planted over 31 lakh saplings in the current fiscal till December 2022, it added.

The ministry said that greening initiatives inside mine lease area during the last five years in 4,392 hectares has created a carbon sink potential of 2.2 lakh tonne per year.

"Coal/Lignite PSUs have covered around 2,230 ha land under plantation in the current fiscal till December 2022 and around 360 ha under grassing," the ministry said.