Coal PSUs Have Developed 16 Eco-Parks Covering 10,942 Hectares in 5 Years: Government
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New Delhi, Dec 16 (NationPress) Coal & Lignite public sector undertakings (PSUs) under the Ministry of Coal have successfully developed 16 eco-parks over the past 5 years in and around coal mining regions, aimed at promoting environmental regeneration and enhancing tourism and recreational activities, as disclosed by Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
To enhance the green cover in and around coalfields, Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) have created a green cover spanning 10,942 hectares through their plantation and bio-reclamation initiatives in coal and lignite mining areas, the minister stated.
The PSUs have implemented innovative techniques alongside traditional plantation methods. These include three-tier plantations, seed ball plantation, Miyawaki plantation, high-tech cultivation, bamboo plantation, and plantation on overburden dumps utilizing drip irrigation, he elaborated.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) sets forth various specific and general conditions regarding plantation in the Environmental Clearance (EC) for coal mining projects. These stipulations include measures for planting on reclaimed degraded forest and non-forest lands. According to the EC conditions, for reclamation and developing a green belt, plantations are executed in coal mining areas, including external overburden dumps and reclaimed degraded forest as well as non-forest lands, the minister explained.
The environmentally friendly green cover functions as a dust barrier and aids in retaining groundwater as well.
The Miyawaki method of plantation, which is increasingly being embraced, was introduced in the 1970s by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. This technique involves planting native trees, shrubs, and ground cover plants within every square metre.
This method is designed to establish dense, native, and biodiverse forests rapidly. These forests are effective in retaining groundwater and contribute to recharging the groundwater table. With this approach, trees grow 10 times faster, and the plantations serve as a sound and dust barrier. For the effective execution of the Miyawaki Plantation method, the emphasis will be on planting indigenous species that can thrive in the local climate and soil conditions.
