• The consultancy arm of state-owned CIL Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI) has invented a system and method to control generation and movement of fugitive dust and achieved the patent for the same in December 2022.

• Fugitive dust is a form of particulate matter that contributes to air pollution that is generated from various sources which are exposed to air and not discharged into the atmosphere through a confined flow stream.

• This system can be used in mines, thermal power plants, railway sidings, ports, construction sites wherein coal or other minerals/fugitive materials are stored under open sky. 

• Apart from reducing the dust generation from open sources, it will also provide noise attenuation.

• Coal, lignite PSUs under the coal ministry constantly work to produce quality coal in an environmentally responsible manner to meet the country’s energy needs.

• To prevent or mitigate air pollution caused by coal mining and allied activities, coal/lignite PSUs are adopting various measures. 

• Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI) is a government of India enterprise having its corporate headquarters in Ranchi.

• It is a ‘Miniratna’ (Category I) company and a fully owned subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL).

Coal sector

• Coal, as primary commercial energy fuel, has been sustaining the country’s energy requirements for decades and would continue to retain its relevance for a few more decades as well. With around 55 per cent share, coal occupies the major space in India’s energy basket.

• India is the world's second-largest producer and consumer of coal.

• Of the country’s total power generation of 1378.525 Billion Units (BU) during 2020-21, including renewable energy sources, coal based generation was 950.751 BU which is around 69 per cent highlighting coal’s importance.

• Additionally, coal continues to stoke many non-power industries as well including cement, fertilizers, sponge iron, aluminium and a host of other industries.

• The world over many countries are moving away from coal but the Indian context is different. In India, what makes coal a preferred energy fuel is its abundance, availability and affordability. Until alternative energy sources start making significant contributions, there is no replacement for coal as the country’s irreplaceable prime energy source.

• With coal commanding such prominence in the Indian energy sector, CIL is at the forefront of the nation’s coal production. CIL alone produces around 83 per cent of country’s entire coal output.

• Around 80 per cent of CIL’s total supplies are catered to the power sector.

Coal India Limited

• Coal India Limited (CIL) is a ‘Maharatna’ company under the ministry of coal, with headquarters situated in Kolkata.

• CIL is the single largest coal producing company in the world and one of the largest corporate employers.

• CIL operates through 85 mining areas spread over eight states. It has 345 mines of which 151 are underground, 172 opencast and 22 mixed mines.

CIL has eight fully owned Indian subsidiary companies:

• Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL)

• Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL)

• Central Coalfields Limited (CCL)

• Western Coalfields Limited (WCL)

• South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL)

• Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL)

• Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL)

• Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI). 

• In addition, CIL has a foreign subsidiary in Mozambique namely Coal India Africana Limitada (CIAL). 

• CIL has incorporated two new subsidiaries — CIL Navikarniya Urja Limited for development of non-conventional/clean & renewable energy and CIL Solar PV Limited for development of solar photovoltaic modules.

• CIL is headed by a chairman-cum-managing director. He is assisted by four functional directors. 

• Each subsidiary company has its own board of directors headed by chairman-cum-managing director.

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