India’s Push for Carbon Reduction in Mining Operations

18 Mar 2025 CW Team

In alignment with India's Panchamrit goals and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitments, the Ministry of Coal is advancing sustainable coal mining and reducing carbon emissions through various initiatives. Key measures to cut carbon footprint • Energy Efficiency Initiatives: Coal and lignite PSUs are implementing energy conservation measures, including LED lighting, energy-efficient air conditioners, super fans, EV deployment, efficient water heaters, and energy-saving motors. • Green Credit Program: Coal PSUs are participating in extensive afforestation efforts under the Green Credit Program launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC). • First Mile Connectivity (FMC) Projects: Upgrading mechanised coal transportation and loading systems reduces diesel consumption, significantly lowering emissions. • Blast-Free Mining Technologies: Companies are deploying Surface Miners, Continuous Miners, and Rippers, eliminating drilling, blasting, and crushing to minimise pollution. • Renewable Energy and Clean Coal Technologies: Coal PSUs are commissioning renewable energy projects and exploring coal gasification, coal bed methane (CBM), and other clean coal technologies. Environmental compliance and sustainable practices Coal PSUs are ensuring compliance with Environmental Clearance (EC), Forest Clearance (FC), Consent to Operate (CTO), and Consent to Establish (CTE) while adopting the following sustainability measures: • Expanding surface mining, continuous mining, and longwall mining to reduce environmental impact. • Increasing First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects to cut road-based coal transportation emissions. • Improving energy efficiency across mining operations. • Restoring mined-out areas through eco-restoration, including eco-parks and mine tourism sites. • Repurposing de-coaled land for renewable energy projects, agriculture, and community development initiatives. EIA review guidelines Currently, there are no specific regulations mandating the frequency of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reviews for mining companies, particularly concerning carbon emissions. This information was provided by Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. (PIB)

Infrastructure Urban

17 Sep 2025

DCPC Prepares for Special Campaign 5.0 with Focus on E-Waste

The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, is gearing up for Special Campaign 5.0, to be held from 2nd to 31st October 2025. The initiative will focus on e-waste disposal as per MoEFCC’s E-Waste Management Rules 2022, space optimisation, and enhancing workplace efficiency across field offices.Special Campaign 4.0, conducted between October 2023 and October 2024, delivered notable results in record management, grievance redressal, scrap disposal, and cleanliness drives.Key outcomes of Special Campaign 4.0Records management: 2,443 physical fil..

BlackRock India Leases 1.4 Lakh Sq Ft in Bengaluru

BlackRock Services India, the domestic arm of global asset manager BlackRock, has leased 1.4 lakh sq ft of office space at IndiQube Symphony in Bengaluru, according to Propstack data. The 10-year deal is valued at around Rs 4.10 billion.The lease, among the largest transactions in India’s co-working sector, highlights the growing preference of global institutions for flexible office providers. The agreement, commencing October 1, 2025, covers ground plus five floors in KNG Tower 1 at Ashoknagar, MG Road — one of Bengaluru’s prime commercial hubs.As per the lease document, BlackRock will ..

L&T Bags Rs 25–50 Bn Order for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Track Works

Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) Transportation Infrastructure business has secured an order valued between Rs 25 crore and Rs 50 billion from the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor.The contract, Package T1, involves the design, supply, construction, testing, and commissioning of 156 route km of high-speed ballastless track on a Design-Build Lump Sum Price basis. The stretch runs from Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex to Zaroli village in Gujarat and includes 21 km of underground track and 135 km of elevated viaduct.Se..