Coal news and updates

Total number of functional mines at 9,872

July 24: The total number of mines currently at functional stage in the country is at 9,872, Vishnu Deo Sai, the Minister of State for Mines, Steel, Labour and Employment, said recently.
The number of functioning mines in the country as of now and their number in the public and private sectors as well as workers in such mines are given below:

The minister said that the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), a sub-ordinate office of the Ministry of Mines during inspection in the year 2012-13, pointed out 94 violations. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change during the year 2013-14 and 2014-15 (up to June 30, 2014) issued directions to various state governments for filing complaints under Section 15/19 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 in Competent Courts of Law in case of 238 mining projects for violation of the provisions under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

He said that state government grants mineral concession as the owners of minerals. However, prior approval of the central government is necessary before grant of mineral concession in respect of specified minerals listed in the First Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957. The central government grants such prior approval subject to environment and forest clearance, the release added.