Eco friendly coal mining

Since the dawn of history human activity has inexorably been degrading and destroying natural resources. With the advent of an all pervasive materialistic culture there has been a phenomenal increase in the exploitation of Mother Earth and her natural bounty Driven by an insatiable thirst for more and more material comforts humans are remorselessly and relentlessly consuming the diminishing and finite natural resources of the planet at a frenzied pace

Mining is an inherently polluting and environmentally degrading activity, industrial development is heavily reliant on availability of cheap and easily utilizable fossil fuel-based energy Coal is the most used fossil fuel in the globe and accounts for nearly 23.5% of global energy requirements. Coal mining has become an inevitable and necessary evil in humankind's quest for unceasing and boundless materialistic development.

Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) is the sole coal mining company in South india Originally founded as the Hyderabad (Deccan) Company in 1886, SCCL continues to exploit Mother Nature's dark child since 1889. During its long and chequered history SCCL has steadily increased its mining activity and expanded into new areas. With the quickening pace of industrial development since the early 1990s, coal mining has witnessed a sharp increase in SCCL. From a production level of a mere 53 million tonnes in 1973-74, the Company has crested 35 million tonnes in 2004-05. During this period the number of opencast mines has increased to 12, and underground mines have increased from 26 to 54.

The increase in mining activity has generated serious and complex environmental challenges. The Company has been attempting to minimize the damage to the environment which is an inevitable consequence of its activities. Responding with vision and courage, the Company has undertaken path-breaking environmental initiatives since January 2002. This book attempts to document the holistic approach evolved by the Company's management in promoting eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable coal mining.

The fundamental objective of the new environmental and forestry policy of the Company focuses on containing damage to Mother Earth. Opencast mining operations create huge overburden (06) dumps. We have taken a unique initiative in utilizing biological engineering to restore the green cover on OB dumps Simultaneously, efforts are on to conserve energy in all its forms, conserve water resources and promote environmental consciousness amongst all Singarenians.