Ministry of Coal Releases AAROH: India's First Mine Closure Report
The Ministry of Coal released 'AAROH: Annual Report on Mine Closure,' India's first comprehensive documentation of scientific mine closure and repurposing practices. The report, developed by the Coal Controller Organisation, documents the transformative journey of 42 scientifically closed coal mines, showcasing structured reclamation processes, ecological restoration initiatives, sustainable post-mining land utilisation, and community-oriented interventions. Each mine profile features key closure initiatives, post-mining land-use outcomes, before-and-after visual documentation, and QR code-enabled documentary videos capturing the transformation journey.
International Cooperation and Funding
The Ministry signed an Implementation Agreement with Germany's Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) for technical cooperation on 'To-be closed mines.' The project has been commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is co-financed by the European Union, with a total project volume of EUR 10 million until 2030. The cooperation will focus over the next four years on developing innovative and sustainable approaches for the closure and repurposing of coal mines in India, strengthening India-Germany cooperation in the mining sector.
Financial Commitments and Targets
The Government has created a dedicated corpus of over USD 5 billion (approximately ₹40,000 crore) for scientific mine closure and progressive mine closure. For the first time, 25% of the approved mine closure cost has been earmarked for community development, creating an investment potential of nearly ₹10,000 crore over the next decade. India has scientifically closed 42 coal mines, including 33 in the last year alone, and has set an ambitious target of scientifically closing 147 more mines over the next two to three years.
Infrastructure and Community Development Initiatives
The Union Minister virtually inaugurated Coal NEER Plants established by Coal India Limited through its subsidiaries—Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), and South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL). These plants purify mine water using advanced treatment methods including RO, UV and CDI technologies and market it as safe, high-quality bottled drinking water under the brand name 'Coal Neer,' providing sustainable livelihood opportunities for Self Help Groups from nearby villages.
Tripartite Memorandums of Understanding were signed by Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) and Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority (JRDA) with Hindalco Industries Limited and Rajdhani Universal Fabrics Private Limited. The MoU with Hindalco aims to establish an Industry-Linked Skill Centre to equip youth with industry-relevant skills for apparel manufacturing units, while the MoU with Rajdhani Universal Fabrics aims to establish a world-class integrated technical textile manufacturing ecosystem that will generate large-scale employment and strengthen skill development.
Policy Frameworks and Global Partnerships
The Ministry has built a comprehensive ecosystem for mine closure through the RECLAIM Framework, SUVIKALP digital platform, A.R.T.H.A. Framework, and District Collector-led Mine Closure Advisory Committees. The Mine Closure Guidelines, 2025 place people and sustainability at the heart of mine closure. Reclaimed mine lands are being repurposed for renewable energy, eco-tourism, water conservation, agriculture, community infrastructure and sustainable livelihood generation, with examples from West Bokaro, Bishrampur and the Viveknagar Solar Project.
Coal PSUs are supplying nearly 300 lakh kiloliters of treated mine water annually, benefiting around three lakh people, including supplying drinking water to Chennai. The Revised Jharia Master Plan goes beyond rehabilitation by creating sustainable livelihood opportunities through skill development and establishment of a Plug-and-Play Textile Manufacturing Facility for rehabilitated families.