Source: PIB & Ministry of Mines
In order to promote green, safe and sustainable mining practices using technology as a tool, Ministry of Coal (MoC) has launched a web portal for star rating of coal mines
Key features of the portal
The portal enables all operational coal mines across India for self-rating, their subsequent validation by Coal Controller’s Organization (CCO), further evaluation and finally award of star rating.
How will the rating of mines be done?
- Based on the star ratings obtained through a well-defined mechanism on this web portal, the highest-scoring mines in the country will be awarded in a public ceremony.
- Besides, all the mines will be given an official certificate by the CCO mentioning their star rating and the particular reporting year.
- The mines that score from 91 to 100% will get 5 stars, 81 to 90% 4 stars, 71 to 80% 3 stars, 61 to 70% 2 stars, 41 to 60% 1 star and mines that score from 0 to 40% will get No star on the portal as per laid down procedures of the Star Rating Policy for Coal Mines in India.
- The portal will provide a login to each coal mine for self-evaluation along with necessary documents for testimonials.
- The field offices of CCO will be provided a separate login to the web portal through which they can access the submissions of self-evaluation.
- A validation committee constituted through CCO will put the final remarks based on the laid down policy and finally, the star rating will be recorded on the portal.
Star rating policy of Ministry of Mines
The Ministry of Coal last year had formulated a Star Rating Policy for Coal Mines in India. This policy envisages 50 evaluation parameters in Opencast Mines and 47 in Underground Mines as star rating criteria under seven broad modules namely –
- Mining Operations Related Parameters
- Environment-related parameters
- Adoption of Technologies:
- Best Mining Practices
- Economic performance
- Rehabilitation & Resettlement related parameters
- Worker-related Compliance and Safety and security-related parameters.
Star rating by Indian Bureau of Mines
The ‘Star Rating’ system has been instituted by the Ministry of Mines through Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), in which ratings will be awarded to the mining leases for their efforts and initiatives taken for implementation of the Sustainable Development Framework (SDF) IBM would give rating of one to five stars to the mines, Under this system, a provisional ‘Star Rating’ would be awarded on self-certification basis of the evaluation template, filed by the lessee, which will be validated by IBM and final rating will be awarded accordingly. The Star Rating assessment validations template for category A and Category B mines will be filed by all leaseholders who operate Mining for Major Minerals.
About Indian Bureau of Mines
The Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) established in 1948, is a multi-disciplinary government organization under the Department of Mines, Ministry of Mines, engaged in the promotion of conservation, scientific development of mineral resources and protection of the environment in mines other than coal, petroleum & natural gas, atomic minerals and minor minerals.
