As part of the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Ministry of Coal has unveiled a comprehensive report titled ‘Greening Initiative in Coal & Lignite PSUs.’ This publication underscores the significant efforts undertaken by public sector undertakings (PSUs) in the coal and lignite sectors to reclaim and rejuvenate mined-out lands through extensive afforestation and ecological restoration projects.
The report’s release aligns with World Environment Day 2024, which emphasizes land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience under the slogan ‘Our Land. Our Future. We are #GenerationRestoration.’ It highlights the critical role of sustainable land management in combating desertification and ensuring a sustainable future.
Secretary of the Ministry of Coal, Amrit Lal Meena, praised the contributions of CMPDI and the Sustainability & Just Transition Division in compiling the report. He expressed hope that it would inspire other entities to enhance green cover using innovative techniques such as seed ball plantation, seed casting via drones, and Miyawaki plantation within coal mines.
The report showcases the greening initiatives of Coal/Lignite PSUs, which have transformed barren landscapes into thriving green areas, contributing to carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and enhanced drought resilience. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to mitigate the environmental impact of coal mining and promote environmental sustainability.
Key highlights of the report include:
- Extensive Afforestation: Coal/Lignite PSUs have established green cover spanning approximately 50,000 hectares in and around coal mining regions. This includes biological reclamation of 29,592 hectares of de-coaled land, 12,673 hectares of additional plantation within mine leaseholds, and 7,735 hectares of plantation activities outside mine leaseholds.
- Carbon Sink Potential: The greening efforts are estimated to create a carbon sink potential of approximately 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.
- Scientific Reclamation Techniques: PSUs are implementing technical and biological reclamation techniques according to mining plans, and pioneering community-oriented land uses such as restored forests, eco-parks, and eco-tourism sites.
The report, validated through remote sensing studies and on-site ground-truthing surveys, sets a new standard for documenting baseline data on greening efforts by Coal/Lignite PSUs. It provides detailed mine-specific data on land usage, reclamation efforts, and current and planned plantations.
Looking ahead, the report outlines a roadmap for future plantation initiatives planned until the fiscal year 2029-2030, aimed at advancing effective land reclamation and sustainable utilization of mining-degraded lands. This initiative supports India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of achieving a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tonnes by 2030.
The full report is available on the Ministry of Coal’s website, marking a significant milestone in India’s journey towards sustainable land management and environmental preservation.
