Towards the commitment of environmental sustainability, Coal/Lignite PSUs under the Ministry of Coal have embarked on a concerted mission to achieve extensive afforestation goals. Coal/Lignite PSUs are making persistent efforts to minimise the footprints of coal mining through sustained reclamation and afforestation of areas in and around its operating mines. The reclamation activities are being carried out as per well-designed and approved mine closure plans, which carry detailed provisions regarding progressive as well as final mine closure activities.
The ongoing efforts of Coal/Lignite PSUs have resulted in the plantation of over 35.17 lakhs native saplings on an area of 1907 Ha of land in and around coal mining areas as of August 23, 2023 against the target of 2400 Ha in FY 2023-24. Coal/Lignite PSUs under the guidance of Ministry of Coal have also achieved a milestone of plantation covering more than 10000 Ha of land during last 5 years from FY 2019-20 by planting more than 217 lakh native species.