Regulatory hurdles bigger challenge than technology: CIL

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26 Aug, 2025 12:21

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Policy and regulatory hurdles are bigger challenges than technological handicap for higher coal output and conducive guidelines are needed to promote underground mining, CIL Chairman S Narsing Rao said today. "More than technological challenges, it is social, political, environmental, administrative and regulatory challenges for higher coal production in the country," Coal India Chairman S Narsing Rao said at the 5th International Mining, Exploration, Mineral Processing Technology, Metals & Machinery Exhibition here.

He said the current coal shortage of 25 million could have been met by both PSUs and private sector by giving emphasis on underground mining. He said present environmental norms remain same for both open cast and underground mining. Several projects of Coal India are stuck due lack of environment-related approvals.

"Even if we do not disturb the surface of the land in underground mining, we would require surface right which is required during an open cast mine," Rao said. He emphasised the need for regulatory relaxation for underground mining as impact on surface is minimal compared to open cast mining. Underground mining can minimise impact of displacement of people and forest land. Of the nearly 600 million tonnes (approximately) coal production in the country, underground coal is very less, he said.

Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal also said underground mining had declined over the years and there was a need for a balanced approach. He also said the current technology for underground mining in India was not so modern and thus we were seeking cooperation from various countries who are leaders in such technologies.