The Ministry of Coal (MoC), on August 6, 2026, notified the Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2026, amending the Colliery Control Rules, 2004. The amendment revises the procedure for obtaining approval before opening a coal mine, seam, or section of a seam by substituting Rule 9.
Under the amended framework, companies registered under the Companies Act, 2013 and statutory corporations are no longer required to obtain prior approval from the Coal Controller Organisation. Instead, they must obtain prior approval from their Board of Directors or the Governing Authority, which must ensure that all statutory permissions and regulatory compliances have been secured before granting approval. They must also intimate the Coal Controller Organisation within 15 days of opening the mine, seam, or section, in the prescribed form.
For owners who are not companies or statutory corporations, prior approval from the Coal Controller Organisation remains mandatory. The revised provisions also apply where mining operations resume after being discontinued for 180 days or more. Additionally, the Coal Controller Organisation will maintain an indicative list of permissions required from Central and State Governments and other statutory authorities for compliance.
[Notification No. G.S.R. 710(E)]
