RECLAIM Framework for Mine Closure: Key Features, Significance, and Challenges

Recently, the Ministry of Coal officially launched the RECLAIM, a community-engagement and development framework to guide the closure and post-closure of coal mines across India.

• Important for Prelims & Current Affairs
• Relevant for GS Paper 3 (Environment & Climate Change).
• Essay topics related to sustainable development.

RECLAIM (Rejuvenation, Engagement, Community Livelihoods, and Mine-closure) is a community development framework developed by the Coal Controller Organisation.

• The framework aims to ensure a just, inclusive, and sustainable transition for coal-dependent communities by restoring degraded land, regenerating ecosystems, and creating alternative livelihoods.
• A step-by-step guide by the Ministry of Coal, in partnership with the Heartfulness Institute, ensures community participation at every stage of mine closure, from planning to post-closure monitoring.

The framework incorporates several distinctive features that make it uniquely suited to India's mining industry:

• Local Governance Linkage: Aligns closely with Panchayati Raj Institutions to embed accountability and ownership at the village level.
• Livelihood Revitalization: Offers skilling programmes, enterprise support, and land-use options such as solar farms, agroforestry, and eco-tourism to diversify income streams.
• Community-Centric Planning: Promotes local participation with emphasis on gender equity and vulnerable groups.
• Actionable Tools: Provides field-tested methodologies tailored to Indian mining regions.

The framework is supported by a suite of actionable tools, templates, and field-tested methodologies specifically tailored to the Indian context.

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The RECLAIM Framework follows a systematic three-phase approach that ensures comprehensive coverage of the mine closure process.

The framework holds significant importance for India's mining sector and broader sustainable development goals:

• Mitigates socio-economic and environmental impacts of mine closures.
• Supports Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promotes transparency and accountability.
• Serves as a replicable model for other resource-dependent sectors and states.
• Addresses the gap between policy and practice in mine closure.

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India faces substantial challenges in implementing effective mine closure practices, creating an urgent need for frameworks like RECLAIM.

• Policy Implementation Gap: Despite the introduction of mine closure guidelines in 2009, only three coal mines have been formally closed out of 299 non-operational mines identified for closure.
   
• Abandoned Mine Crisis: Coal India Limited (CIL) has identified 299 mines that are considered abandoned, discontinued, or closed.

1. 169 pre-2009 mines and 130 post-2009 mines require closure.
2. 68 pre-2009 mines are marked for final closure.
3. Only 8 mines had applied for formal closure by August 2024 out of 299 identified.

• Environmental and Safety Hazards: Abandoned mines pose significant environmental and safety risks:

1. Methane emissions from exposed coal seams.
2. Water contamination and acid mine drainage.
3. Structural instability and collapse risks.
4. Air pollution from dust and particulates.

• Community Impact: Over 21 million Indians depend on the fossil fuel economy for their livelihood. Mine closures without proper planning result in:

1. Loss of direct employment from mining operations.
2. Disruption of indirect mine-dependent livelihoods.
3. Economic hardship for the surrounding communities.
4. Social displacement and cultural disruption.

The launch of the RECLAIM Framework is an important step for India’s mining sector. For many years, mine closures were treated mainly as technical issues, often ignoring the needs of local people and harming the environment. RECLAIM changes this by focusing on community involvement, women’s participation, and restoring nature.

India has big challenges ahead—there are 299 abandoned mines, and very few have been closed properly. RECLAIM gives a clear plan to fix this. Its three-step approach makes sure local communities are not just informed but actually involved in the process. It also connects with local governments (Panchayati Raj) and helps vulnerable groups. If done well, this can be a model for not just India but other mining regions around the world.

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