18 lakh people benefited from mine water in India

New Delhi: Around 18 lakh people living in 900 villages in the proximity of coal mining area have been benefited by the use of mine water, as per the Ministry of Coal.

 During the current fiscal, coal/lignite PSUs planned to supply around 4000 LKL of mine water for community use of which 2788 LKL has been supplied till December 2022. 

From this 881LKL has been used for domestic purposes including drinking, said the Ministry.

“This endeavour is in line with the Government’s Jal Shakti Abhiyan of water conservation effort has benefited mainly tribal people and those living in remote areas” it said in a statement.

In 2022-23, Coal India Ltd. (CIL) has already surpassed its annual plantation target of 1510 hectares by expanding its green cover to 1600 hectares ending December of FY’23.

 CIL has also planted over 31 lakh saplings in the current fiscal till December, 2022.

The Ministry said greening initiatives inside mine lease area during the last five years in 4392 hectares has created a carbon sink potential of 2.2 LT per year.

Coal/Lignite PSUs have also covered around 2230 Ha land under plantation in the current fiscal till December 2022 and around 360 Ha under grassing.

The Ministry said the use of new techniques like seed ball plantation, seed casting through drones and Miyawaki plantation in its various mines are in place.

These afforestation activities and green belt development works are also creating carbon sinks and dense tree coverage also helps to control air pollution, arrests the suspended dust particles emitted during mining operations.