The Ministry of Coal (MoC) on March 17, 2025, issued the Draft Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2025, to further amend the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960.
The following has been stated namely: -
• In rule 22B, the proviso in sub-rule (4) shall be substituted. It states that a mining plan may extend beyond the block boundary with a State Government NOC based on a CMPDIL certificate for non-coal areas or technical viability for coal-bearing areas, with project proponents required to submit an undertaking for timely overburden re-handling.
• Rule 22E, shall be substituted. It states that a revised mining plan shall be submitted for approval under Rule 22B, except for minor changes like land type adjustments, infrastructure modifications, production increases up to 50%, technology upgrades, and repurposing land for projects, with allocated coal mines requiring prior approval for modifications affecting agreement terms or efficiency parameters.
• Rule 29A, shall be substituted. It states that a mining lease cannot be terminated unless the approved final or temporary mine closure plan is implemented, with a certificate from the relevant authority confirming the completion of protective, reclamation, and rehabilitation work.
• It states that Coal or lignite-bearing States and Union Territories are invited with their suggestions to the consultative meeting scheduled through hybrid mode on March 21, 2025, at 4.30 PM in the Conference Room, Ministry of Coal, Shastri Bhawan. New Delhi 110001.
Refer to the attached document for “Guidelines for the Preparation of the Mining Plan and Mine Closure Plan for Coal and Lignite Blocks, 2025”.
[Notification no. - PS1 -12012/2/2021-PS1-Part(2)]
