The Ministry of Coal (MoC), on June 29, 2026, issued the Draft Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2026 to seek comments/suggestions from the concerned stakeholders to furnish their views/observations.
The following has been stated:
For rule 9, the following rule shall be substituted, namely:
9. Requirement of prior approval to open a coal mine, seam or section of a seam –
(1) No owner of a colliery shall open a coal mine or a seam or a section of a seam, without prior approval of: (a) the Board of the company, where the owner is a company registered under the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013); or (b) The Governing Authority or Board or committee, what so ever name is applicable, of statutory corporations established by or under any Central or State Act.
Provided that while according such approval, the Board or Governing Authority or committee etc shall ensure that all requisite permissions have been obtained and compliances done, as prescribed by the Central Government, the State Government and statutory bodies: Provided further that an intimation shall be sent to Coal Controller Organisation within period of fifteen days of opening the coal mine or the seam or a section of the seam: Provided also that the Coal Controller Organisation may prescribe a form for this purpose.
(2) No owner of a colliery, which is neither a company registered under the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013) nor a statutory corporation established by or under any Central or State Act, shall open a coal mine or a seam or a section of a seam, without prior approval of the Coal Controller Organisation.
Please refer to the document attached below for more details.
[F. No. MPS-17023/3/2025-MPS]
