SECL Advances Environmental Sustainability through Compensatory Afforestation Initiatives

Coal mining projects typically require forest land, necessitating Forestry Clearance (FC) as part of the environmental approval process.

South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a prominent subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), has made notable progress in environmental sustainability by successfully implementing the Accredited Compensatory Afforestation (ACA) guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). These efforts aim to increase forest cover, promote afforestation on non-forest lands, and contribute to national environmental goals, while also earning valuable carbon credits.

Coal mining projects typically require forest land, necessitating Forestry Clearance (FC) as part of the environmental approval process. A significant challenge in obtaining these clearances is identifying suitable Compensatory Afforestation (CA) land. To address this, the MoEF&CC issued ACA guidelines on January 24, 2023, designed to streamline the FC approval process, reduce CA costs, and enhance afforestation efforts. The ACA guidelines encourage both government institutions and private landowners to undertake afforestation on fallow lands, increasing Trees Outside Forests (TOF) and supporting biodiversity.

In response to the ACA guidelines, SECL identified approximately 2,245 hectares of afforested non-forest de-coaled land, including 1,424 hectares in Chhattisgarh and 821 hectares in Madhya Pradesh. These lands were proposed to the respective State Forest Departments for notification as ACA land banks, expected to expedite the FC process for future coal mining projects requiring forest land diversion.

Biological Reclamation and Plantation: SECL has implemented biological reclamation and plantation across various sites, including Bishrampur Opencast (OC) Project, Dugga OC, Kurasia Colliery, Jamuna OC, Kotma OC, and Sharda OC in Chhattisgarh, and Anuppur and Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh. These efforts have transformed de-coaled lands into thriving ecosystems with local species like Teak, Sal, Babul, and Neem.

Biodiversity Enrichment: The reclaimed lands now support a rich variety of flora and fauna, including species such as the Sloth Bear, Fox, and various reptiles and migratory birds, particularly around water bodies.

ACA Land Certification: Out of the 1,424 hectares identified in Chhattisgarh, 696 hectares have been inspected by officials from the Surajpur and Korea Forest Divisions. The State Forest Department has issued site suitability certificates for these lands to be used as CA land for various FC proposals of SECL, including Gevra OC, Dipka OC, Kusmunda OC, and Chirimiri OC. The MoEF&CC has already accepted ACA proposals for Gevra OC and Kusmunda OC, covering a total of 541.195 hectares.

SECL’s adherence to ACA guidelines and efforts to restore ecological balance on de-coaled lands underscore its commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible mining practices. These initiatives set a benchmark for other coal mining entities across the country, as SECL continues to contribute to India’s environmental goals and promotes a greener, more sustainable future.