State-owned CIL will shortly enter into a pact with Forest Research Institute for third party audit of mine closure plans (MCP), environmental audit and forestry issues.
Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal said that since the closure of mines is an important activity, government has undertaken special plan for studying each coal mine for preparing its closure plan, according to a Coal Ministry statement.
In the plan, special emphasis has been placed on efficient usage of water for the purposes of drinking, irrigation after appropriate treatment and ground water recharge, the minister said.
A meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to Coal Ministry was held here last evening for reviewing the 'Implementation of Mine closure Plans of Coal India Ltd'.
Goyal, who chaired the meeting, said that to further strengthen the process, CIL is engaging Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) for carrying out various studies.
CIL has identified 476 mines for closure and MCPs of 445 mines have been approved till July 31,2016. As per guidelines, Rs 4,387.60 crore have been deposited in an escrow account by CIL.
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