Coal Ministry Proposes Amendments to Colliery-Control Rules to Streamline Mine Approvals
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
Institutions: Ministry of Coal (MoC)
The Ministry of Coal has issued a draft amendment — the Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2025 — to revise existing provisions under the Colliery Control Rules, 2004. Under the proposed changes, any colliery owner must secure prior approval from the company’s Board before opening a coal mine, seam or a section thereof, ensuring all requisite permissions (from central/state governments and statutory bodies) are in place. Where the owner is not a company registered under the Companies Act, the prior approval must come from the Coal Controller Organisation (CCO).
The amendment covers situations when mining operations resume after a discontinuation of 180 days or more, thereby tightening oversight on restarts. The CCO is required to maintain a consolidated list of necessary permissions and ensure compliance. The draft rules have been published for public consultation; objections or suggestions can be submitted within 15 days of the notification’s Gazette publication.
Policy Relevance:
The amendment aims to rationalise regulatory oversight in coal mining — ensuring that openings, reopenings or expansions of mines are subject to due diligence and layered approvals. This could enhance environmental, safety and statutory compliance, especially in non-company-owned collieries. For policymakers, the draft signals a shift toward strengthening institutional checks, mitigating risks from unregulated mine openings, and ensuring alignment with state and central environmental and statutory norms.
What Is the Coal Controller Organisation (CCO)?→ A statutory technical body under the Ministry of Coal responsible for inspection, regulation and control of coal mines — including safety, working conditions and compliance with mining regulations.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can states and the coal sector ensure that the new approval procedures do not delay legitimate mining operations — while balancing environmental safeguards, worker safety and regulatory transparency?
Follow the full notification here:
Ministry of Coal Draft Notification — Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules