Turning Mine Water into a Resource, Government Efforts

The Ministry of Coal is collaborating with its large corporations such as Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) to utilize well treated water that emerges from coal mines effectively. They are consuming this water for drinking, agriculture (irrigation), and industrial purposes, adhering to all the regulations regarding safety and protection of the environment. In order to ensure the water is safe, they properly treat it and comply with regulations such as Environmental Protection Act, 1986, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and guidelines laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and concerned State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).

Additionally, Coal and Lignite PSUs have formulated their own standard operating procedures to ensure the safe and effective utilization of treated mine water for various purposes. For drinking water, the treated mine water goes through cleaning steps like filtering, removing dirt, and disinfecting. It is also tested regularly by approved labs using standards like BIS IS 10500:2012 for drinking water and CGWA standards, and others as required.

They are also trying to expand this project to more coal mining areas, so the extra treated water can be used not just for drinking, but also for farming and industrial needs. Coal and Lignite PSUs have undertaken projects for gainful utilisation of surplus mine water for domestic, irrigation and industrial purposes.