Parliament Question: Utilisation of Treated Mine Water

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3962 ANSWERED ON 12/08/2026 UTILISATION OF TREATED MINE WATER

3962. SMT. APARAJITA SARANGI:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a) the total volume of mine water generated, treated and subsequently discharged or utilized by Coal India Limited (CIL) and other Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) during the last two financial years;

(b) the steps taken by the Government to supply treated mine water to rural communities for domestic, drinking and agricultural irrigation purposes in coal-bearing regions;

(c) whether any guidelines or collaborative frameworks (such as Memorandum of Understanding) have been established with State Governments to utilize abandoned mine pits as permanent water reservoirs or for aquaculture; and

(d) if so, the robust monitoring mechanisms in place to guarantee that the treated mine water complies strictly with environmental safety norms before community distribution? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL AND MINES (SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY)

(a) The total volume of mine water generated, treated and subsequently utilized, or discharged (without treatment) by the Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), namely Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL) and Singareni Collieries Company Limited

(SCCL), during the last two financial years is given below [in Lakh Kilo Litre (LKL)]:

Mine Water Mine Water Financial Mine Water Mine Water Generated Discharged Year Treated (LKL) Utilized (LKL)

(LKL) (LKL) 2024-25 8438.57 7510.33 7510.33 928.24 2025-26 8398.59 8009.87 8009.87 388.72

(b) Coal and Lignite PSUs have undertaken various measures to supply treated mine water to rural communities in coal and lignite bearing regions for domestic, drinking and agricultural irrigation purposes. These include installation of mine water treatment facilities such as Pressure Filters, Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants, Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs), sedimentation ponds, and storage reservoirs for making treated mine water available for supply to nearby villages for domestic, drinking and irrigation purposes.

(c) Coal and Lignite PSUs undertake utilization of abandoned and reclaimed mine pits as water storage reservoirs or for fisheries/aquaculture, wherever technically feasible and environmentally suitable, in accordance with approved Mine Closure Plans and applicable statutory provisions.

1(d) To ensure that treated mine water supplied to communities complies with the prescribed environmental standards, Coal and Lignite PSUs have established a robust monitoring mechanism comprising treatment of mine water through appropriate treatment systems prior to supply, periodic sampling and testing of water quality through laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) in accordance with standards prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), continuous/online monitoring of mine discharge water at designated locations, regular inspections and compliance monitoring by the PSUs and regulatory authorities and adherence to the conditions stipulated in Environmental Clearances, Consent to Operate and other applicable environmental regulations before community distribution.

CIL has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, Government of Jharkhand on 30.10.2017 for utilization of surplus mine water, under which Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, Government of Jharkhand is responsible for treatment and distribution of the mine water beyond the mine premises.

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