Degradation of natural resources has led to deforestation and soil erosion, and become a problem for farmers, who are dependent on agriculture
Coal and lignite public sector undertakings (PSUs) have launched an initiative to plant saplings over 30,000 ha around coalfields by 2030 to check air, noise and soil pollution.
In 2022, as per the statement by the ministry, 50 lakh saplings were planted on 2370 ha land. This initiative of reclamation and setting up of green belts arrests the dust which comes from coal mining, which is a cause of air pollution.
Green belts are also useful in controlling noise coming from industries towards residential areas, reducing levels of noise pollution.
Depletion of resources has affected soil quality, leading to deforestation and problems for farmers. So, to reduce ecological imbalance, reclamation initiatives are being initiated in areas where coal fields are situated.
An example of such a process could be witnessed through the work being carried out by Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, which has grown 8000 saplings in a hectare.
According to media reports, this year 19.5 lakh of samplings have already been planted till August 2023. In this initiative, various types of plantation processes have been used which include block plantation, avenue plantations, three tier plantation, high tech cultivation and bamboo plantation. It is likely that technology like usage of satellites and drones has played a crucial role in ensuring easy monitoring of the reclamation process.