New Delhi. The Central Government has modified the guidelines to simplify the approval processes associated to opening of coal and lignite mines. The authorities has formally notified the Collieries Control (Amendment) Rules, 2025 to make it simpler to begin coal mining operations. The Coal Ministry mentioned in a press release issued on Friday that now the authorities has amended Rule 9 to scale back duplication in the process, improve coal manufacturing and ease the approval process.
Now approval to open mines or their layers could be taken solely from the board of administrators of the involved coal firm. According to the ministry, these amendments will facilitate expediting operations by eradicating procedural duplication, whereas regulatory oversight will proceed. “However, as a safeguard, a provision has been made that the Board of Directors will grant approval for opening of the concerned mine/layer only after obtaining necessary approvals from the Central/State Government and other statutory bodies,” the ministry mentioned. The Coal Ministry mentioned this alteration is predicted to scale back the mine operation timeline by about two months. This change in guidelines transfers operational selections to the firm board of administrators, whereas sustaining regulatory oversight and statutory safety.
The ministry mentioned that this modification is more likely to improve effectivity, speed up coal manufacturing and strengthen confidence in the coal regulatory framework. It is noteworthy that beneath Rule 9 of the Colliery Control Rules, 2004, the mine house owners needed to receive the approval of the Coal Control Organization (CCO) earlier than opening any mine or its layer. If a mine was closed for 180 days or extra, then this permission was additionally given to begin operations once more.(Hindusthan Samachar)