Coal Ministry rolls out Project Information & Management of SWCS

The Ministry of Coal has rolled out the Project Information & Management Module of the Single Window Clearance System (SWCS). While launching the new IT-enabled facility, Secretary Coal Dr Anil Kumar Jain said that it is an innovative initiative of the Ministry to build a platform to get various clearances for the operationalisation of coal mines in the nation. He called upon the officials to arrange interactive sessions to make the new facility friendly to all stakeholders. Different statutory provisions viz permission of Mining Plan and Mine Closure Plan, Environment and Forest Clearances, Grant of Mining Lease, Wild Life Clearance, Safety, the welfare of workers, Rehabilitation of project affected families, are the prerequisites for beginning of a coal mine. These permissions are being given by different Central Ministries and State Government departments/agencies. Some of the approvals have their online portals; still, most of the permissions are being given via offline mode. The project proponents are needed to approach various administrative ministries and Government departments individually to apply for the requisite approvals leading to hold in the coal mines operationalisation. As part of the decision to digitise the permissions, the Ministry of Coal has conceptualised a Single Window Clearance System, via which a project proponent can apply for requisite permissions with a single registration interface. The portal is suggested to map applications and their separate process flows for grants of all the statutory clearances required for the beginning of a Coal Mine. A unified platform of SWCS is developed which incorporates an already operational module for clearance of mining plan and mine closure plan in a time-bound way and integration with Parivesh Portal, digital approval of objection under Section 8 (1) of Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition & Development) Act, 1957, Consent Management System of Telangana & West Bengal to promote ease of doing business. The Ministry of Coal has added in its kitty of SWCS, Project Information & Management Module, which is expected to promote project proponents and Ministry and State officials in monitoring and expeditious execution of coal mines. This project Information & Management Module caters to the digital connection between the mine allocattee & Ministry and delivers the digital resolution in consideration of the respective block. One of the primary features of the module is the management of Bank guarantees, Upfront payment, major approvals, show cause notices, and court cases. Image Source Also read: Coal mines to expand 50% without environment impact assessment