The Ministry of Coal has launched a digital Single Window Clearance System (SWCS) to manage the project information and ease of data management, in which the entire data on Coal Blocks to be digitized in single module. While launching the new IT– enabled facility, the Secretary Coal Dr. Anil Kumar Jain said that “it is an innovative endeavour of the Ministry to create a platform to obtain various clearances for operationalization of coal mines in the country”. He also called upon the officials to organize interactive sessions in order to make the new facility familiar to all stakeholders.
Various statutory provisions like approval of Mining Plan and Mine Closure Plan, Grant of Mining Lease, Environment and Forest Clearances, Wild Life Clearance, Safety, Rehabilitation of project affected families, welfare of workers etc. are the prerequisite for starting of a coal mine. These clearances are being granted by various Central Ministries and State Government departments/agencies. Some of the clearances have their online portals; still most of the clearances are being given through offline mode. The project proponents are required to approach different administrative ministries and Government departments separately to apply for the requisite clearances leading to delay in operationalization of coal mines.
As part of the decision to digitize the clearances, Ministry of Coal has conceptualized a Single Window Clearance System, through which a project proponent can apply for requisite clearances with a single registration interface. The portal is proposed to map applications and their respective process flows for grant of all the statutory clearances required (covering Central Ministries as well as State Government departments/agencies) for starting of a Coal Mine.
To facilitate ease of doing business, a unified platform of SWCS is designed which includes already operational module for approval of mining plan and mine closure plan in a time bound manner and integration with Parivesh Portal, digital acceptance of objection under Section 8 (1) of Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition & Development) Act, 1957, Consent Management System of Telangana & West Bengal.
This project Information & Management Module caters digital connect between the mine allocattee & Ministry and provides the digital resolution in respect of the respective block. One of the major features of the module is the management of Bank Guarantee, Upfront payment, major clearances, show cause notices and court cases.
