No report of illegal extraction from Odisha’s coal mines: Centre

Though coal production from mines in Odisha’s Sundargarh district has shown an increasing trend over the past three years, there have been no violations relating to illegal extraction, excess extraction or non-compliance with land reclamation, Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy told the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

Replying to a query by BJD member Sambit Patra, the minister told the Upper House that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), periodically reviews the environmental compliance status of operating coal mines, including the mines in Sundargarh district of Odisha.

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These reviews encompass assessments through ambient air quality monitoring stations, manual and continuous monitoring, and examination of mine reclamation activities, satellite imagery-based monitoring, statutory reports, on-site inspections, and third-party environmental audits by accredited institutions.

With regard to forest clearance conditions, monitoring of compliance is undertaken by the Ministry of Environment Forest &Climate Change. In cases of non-compliance, actions such as imposition of penalties, environmental compensation, directions for remediation, and suspension of operations are taken by the competent authorities.

Socio-economic study already forms an integral part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). In this regard, as mandated under the Environmental Clearance process, the details of socio-economic study are included as a part of Environmental Management Plan (EMP) reports of coal mining projects, the Minister concluded in a written reply.