Government Amends Rules to Streamline Approval Process of Coal & Lignite Mines

The Government of India has amended the Colliery Control Rules, 2004, to streamline approvals for opening coal and lignite mines by removing procedural redundancies and expediting operationalisation.

Prior to the change, mine owners were required to obtain prior permission from the Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO) to open a mine or seam and to restart operations after 180 days of closure.

Under the amended Rule 9, the power to approve the opening of mines or seams has been delegated to the board of the concerned coal company, subject to obtaining all mandatory Central and State statutory clearances.

The move is aimed at removing procedural bottlenecks, cutting operational timelines by up to two months, and boosting domestic coal production.