Archive · 7 Jan 2026
Coal India Arm Uses AI Drones for Green Cover Assessment
A company called Eastern Coalfields Ltd, which is part of Coal India, is using special drones with artificial intelligence to check on plants and the environment in a mining area in West Bengal.
These drones take pictures and collect data to see how well the plants are growing and if the land is being restored properly.
This helps the company make better decisions about taking care of the environment.
The company plans to produce a lot of coal in the future, and this technology helps them do it in a more eco-friendly way.
ECL deployed AI-driven drones to assess green cover and land reclamation in West Bengal.
The assessment includes drone mapping, spatial validation, and ecological surveys.
High-resolution UAV surveys and geospatial analytics evaluate plantation performance and ecological restoration.
The study is conducted in collaboration with the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research.
The technology enhances accuracy and supports informed decision-making for mine closure planning.
- Who
- Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd
- What
- Deployed AI-driven drones to assess green cover and land reclamation
- When
- January 7, 2026
- Where
- Sonepur-Bazari mining area in West Bengal
- Why
- To evaluate plantation performance and ecological restoration for informed decision-making
- Company
- Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL)
- Technology Used
- AI-driven drones
- Location
- Sonepur-Bazari mining area, West Bengal
- Research Partner
- Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CSIR-CIMFR)
- Production Target
- 58 million tonnes of coal in 2025-26