-
PIB Press Releases
Ministry of Coal Unveils Landmark Report on Overburden Utilization in Coal Sector
In a major step towards sustainable resource management, the Ministry of Coal, under the leadership of Union Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy, today unveiled the High-Powered Expert Committee’s (HPEC) report on the Gainful Utilization of Overburden (OB) in the coal sector. The report was presented during the Half-Yearly Review of the Coal Sector at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. The event was attended by Union Minister of State for Coal & Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, Secretary of the Ministry of Coal Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, and senior officials from coal and lignite public sector undertakings (PSUs). Overburden, which includes soil, rock, and minerals removed during mining operations, has long been viewed as a waste product. However, the HPEC report redefines this narrative by highlighting the potential of OB as a valuable resource. The committee, which includes experts from five central ministries, NITI Aayog, and coal companies, was tasked with exploring innovative ways to repurpose OB in line with sustainable development goals. Transforming Waste into Wealth The HPEC report advocates a ‘Whole Mining’ approach, which integrates OB into the economic value chain. Key recommendations include processing OB to produce Manufactured-Sand (M-Sand), which is in high demand in the construction sector. …
Read full journal