Introduction Of Mine Closure

Mine closure plans are a part of mining plan. Mine closure plan aims at mitigating adverse impact of mining, including environmental remediation, land rehabilitation, ensuring safety, post employments benefits to few of its employees and one time assistance. To address these issues in a systematic way, mine closure plans are prepared and approved at inception stage (i.e. preparation of mining plan) itself. Mining is to be carried out in a phased manner initiating mine closure activities ensuring safety, reclamation and rehabilitation at all stages of mining.

Provisioning of progressive mine closure plan was made in MMDR Act 1957.In CMR-1957(amended in 2017) also, there was provision of carrying out protective works, as directed by DGMS, before abandonment of a mine. Further, comprehensive guidelines for preparation of Mine Closure Plan was made by MoC on 27th August, 2009 (subsequent modifications in 2012, 2013 and 2019). The current guidelines for mine closure were issued by MoC vide OM dated 29.05.2020.