In order to promote green, safe and sustainable mining practices using technology as a tool, the Ministry of Coal (MoC) has launched a web portal for star rating of coal mines. The portal was released by the Union Minister for Coal & Mines Shri Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi.
This web portal will provide a login to each coal mine for self-evaluation along with the necessary documents for testimonials. Separate login will be given to the field offices of Coal Controller’s Organization (CCO) through which they can access the submissions of self-evaluation. A validation committee constituted through CCO will put the final remarks based on the laid down policy and finally, the star rating will be recorded on the portal. The mines scoring the highest score in the country will be awarded in a public ceremony on the basis of the star ratings obtained on this web portal.
The score for the star rating:
The Star Rating Policy for Coal Mines in India is formulated by the Ministry of Coal. This policy assess the Mines on 50 evaluation parameters (in case of Opencast Mines) and 47 evaluation parameters (in case of Underground Mines). The mechanism on the portal would award star rating to the mines with certain evaluation parameters under 7 modules namely
- Environment-related parameters
- Adoption of Technologies: Best Mining Practices
- Worker-related Compliance
- Safety and security related parameters
- Rehabilitation & Resettlement related parameters
- Economic performance
- Mining Operations Related Parameters
The mines that score from 91 to 100% will get 5 stars, 81 to 90% 4 stars, 71 to 80% 3 stars, 61 to 70% 2 stars, 41 to 60% 1 star and mines that score from 0 to 40% will get No star on the portal as per laid down procedures of the Star Rating Policy for Coal Mines in India.
