According to coal ministry data, some 6,100 lakh cubic metre, or 16,700 litres per day, of water is pumped out annually from the mines of India's biggest coal producer, Coal India.
NEW DELHI: Coal has always been identified as the primary source of energy in India, fuelling 55% of power generation. But thanks to a series of policy initiatives by the Narendra Modi government, the Black Diamond industry is now also quenching thirst of nearly seven lakh beneficiaries in 498 villages across six coal-bearing states.
According to coal ministry data, some 6,100 lakh cubic metre, or 16,700 litres per day, of water is pumped out annually from the mines of India's biggest coal producer, Coal India.
Until a few years ago , coal mines utilised only a small portion of this water for sprinkling and coal washing etc. Some of the remaining water was stored in ponds created within mine areas and the rest was pumped out on to neighbouring land.
But things began to change since 2015-16 after coal minister Piyush Goyal asked miners to put mine water to good use. Packaged drinking water under the 'Coal Neer' brand was the first step. Since then, the initiative has grown into a civic service, with the ministry data showing CIL mines supplying some 484 lakh cubic metres of water for domestic use and 599 lakh cubic metres of water for irrigating over 2,060 hectares of land during 2017-18.
