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Large-scale Afforestation Drive underway in Coal Sector in line with Sustainable Development
Prime Minister lauds Development of Eco-parks and Environ care by Coal Companies
By PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Coal is continuously coordinating with coal CPSEs to promote large-scale plantations on decoaled land, overburden dumps, and non-coal-bearing land. As per the latest assessment, during this financial year, coal companies have completed plantations on 2338 hectares. land, planting over 43 lakh saplings. In the last five years a total of 10,000 hect. area has been brought under plantation, using over 2.24 crore saplings.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has lauded the efforts of coal companies for the reclamation of decoaled land through the development of “Eco-Parks” while inaugurating the Chhattisgarh East Rail Corridor dedicated to environmentally sustainable evacuation of coal.
Coal companies are undertaking mission-mode efforts for bio-reclamation of available land. Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has promoted such plantations to be counted for the requirement of “compensatory afforestation”. Accordingly, all coal companies have submitted proposals to the respective State Forest Department for notification of about 2800 hectares. Decoaled afforested land for notification as “Accredited Compensatory Afforestation Area”. This ACA area would be counted towards future requirements of diversion of coal-bearing forest land for taking up further coal mining activities.
All coal subsidiaries have dedicated cells for the promotion of bio-reclamation / plantation. The Coal Ministry has accorded the highest priority to environmentally sustainable measures to ensure a just transition in the coal-producing areas.
