The central government has notified the Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2025 to amend rule 9 of the Colliery Control Rules, 2004 to simplify and expedite the approval process for opening coal and lignite mines.
Under the revised framework, prior permission from the coal controller’s organisation (CCO) for opening a mine, seam or section of a seam has been dispensed with for coal companies with the authority now vested in the board of the concerned coal company. The notification is aimed at eliminating procedural redundancies and is expected to reduce mine operationalisation timelines by up to two months. As safeguards, board approvals can be granted only after obtaining all requisite clearances from central and state governments and statutory bodies.