1 week ago
Jharkhand to pilot rehabilitation, repurposing of two closed mines
Jharkhand wants to find new uses for two coal mines that have closed.
The mines are in Ramgarh and Giridih districts.
Instead of leaving the sites unused, the state plans to restore them and make them safer.
Officials will study how the land, water and buildings can be used in the future.
Possible uses include renewable energy, tourism, farming, fishing and training centres.
People living near the Karma mine will also be consulted and studied.
The project is being developed with India’s Ministry of Coal and the German organisation GIZ.
The state hopes the plan will protect the environment and create new jobs.
Jharkhand selected the Karma opencast mine in Ramgarh and another closed mine in Giridih for a pilot project.
The initiative aims to make former mining sites environmentally safe, socially inclusive and economically productive.
The project is being implemented with the Ministry of Coal and German organisation GIZ under the TCCM initiative.
A detailed mine-closure and repurposing plan will assess land, water, infrastructure, environmental and economic opportunities.
Eight villages within five kilometres of the Karma mine will undergo assessments of socioeconomic conditions, vulnerable groups and livelihoods.
- Who
- The Jharkhand government, with the Ministry of Coal, GIZ, Central Coalfields Limited and other officials, is leading the initiative.
- What
- A pilot project for scientific rehabilitation and sustainable repurposing of two closed coal mines.
- Where
- The selected mines are the Karma opencast mine in Ramgarh and another mine in Giridih, Jharkhand.
- When
- The decision was announced on September 3, following a meeting held the previous Wednesday evening.
- Why
- To restore mining-affected areas, create employment and livelihoods, and keep former mining sites economically productive after closure.
Key facts
- Selected sites
- Karma opencast mine in Ramgarh and another closed mine in Giridih
- Project framework
- Technical Cooperation on To-be-Closed Coal Mines (TCCM)
- Partners
- Jharkhand government, Ministry of Coal and German organisation GIZ
- Local impact area
- Eight villages within a five-kilometre zone around the Karma opencast project
- Potential future uses
- Renewable energy, tourism, agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and skill-development centres
- Planned document
- A detailed project report covering environmental restoration, land use, water and mine-void management, and infrastructure repurposing
- Next step
- Jharkhand will send recommendations on the two mines to the Centre
Quotes
Jharkhand government official statement
Official statement describing the objectives and wider applicability of the mine-closure initiative
“The objective of this initiative is to go beyond merely ceasing mining operations and instead transform closed mines into environmentally safe, socially inclusive, and economically productive assets. This model, developed on the basis of international experience and modern technologies, can later be applied to other coal regions in the country.”
theprint.in
“Land from closed mines can be used for renewable energy, tourism, agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, skill development centres, and other economic activities.”
theprint.in
Sources
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