New Mining Rules Set to Transform Chandrapur's Abandoned Coal Pits into Safe, Productive Assets
Chandrapur district is home to numerous abandoned coal mines, many of which were left behind by Western Coalfields Limited after extraction. These now function as large, open reservoirs, posing serious risks to locals, particularly children. With the implementation of the new rules, the fate of these neglected sites is expected to undergo a dramatic change.
Under the Maharashtra Minor Mineral Extraction (Development and Regulation) Rules, district collectors have been directed to inspect all non-operational mines and prepare comprehensive closure plans.
These include backfilling, land restoration, and implementing protective safety measures to prevent water-related accidents.
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easeholders have been given a one-year timeframe to complete these works, with a strict three-month deadline to begin rehabilitation. Non-compliance will invite legal action, including forfeiture of financial guarantees and recovery of restoration costs as land revenue dues.
The government has also opened up avenues to convert these abandoned mine reservoirs into community assets. With formal approval, such sites can be repurposed for rainwater harvesting, fisheries, water sports, or even solid waste management.
"Abandoned mines were endangering the lives of citizens. This decision will improve mine management, prevent accidents, and help protect the environment. It will especially enhance the safety of rural communities, livestock, and children," said revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
Environmental experts and local authorities in Chandrapur have welcomed the move, calling it a timely intervention that not only strengthens public safety but also aligns with sustainable development goals.
Amid growing concerns over water scarcity, these mine reservoirs could be developed into rainwater storage facilities, contributing to groundwater recharge and improving water availability in rural areas. At the same time, allowing activities like aquaculture and eco-tourism could create livelihood opportunities for local communities while promoting responsible land use.
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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
MCG braces for relocating 50K stray dogs after SC directive
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Business Standard
14 hours ago
- Business Standard
No stray dogs in Delhi? SC target challenges MCD's funds and capacity
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In Delhi, the last formal dog census by the MCD was conducted in 2009, when the stray dog count was recorded at approximately 560,000. Since then, no comprehensive survey has been done. According to a report in The Times of India, a census for stray dogs was conducted in 2016 by the then South Delhi Municipal Corporation, counting 1,89,285 strays in its four zones. Of these, only 27.87 per cent of females and 40.03 per cent of males were sterilised. The MCD admitted in court that updated population data was necessary to assess the impact of existing ABC efforts. Animal birth control centre in Delhi: Capacity gap looms large Delhi currently lists 20 ABC centres in areas such as Rohini, Timarpur, Dwarka, Tughlaqabad, Usmanpur, and Bijwasan, with a combined capacity of 3,500–4,000 dogs at a time, according to MCD Standing Committee minutes from last month. 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Hindustan Times
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Overall, they'd be looking at spending around ₹10,000 crore — money the Delhi government simply does not have,' she said. The lack of space Under current rules, each dog needs a minimum of 12 sq ft of space during sterilisation. For permanent housing, veterinary experts say, that rises to 40–45 sq ft per dog to prevent stress, disease and fights. 'To humanely house even half the estimated population, you'd need hundreds of acres and thousands of enclosures. You can't just pile dogs into overcrowded sheds — they will fight, spread disease, and die in large numbers,' said Ravindra Sharma, former director of veterinary services. 'And you cannot mix dogs from different territories; they will become aggressive.' The MCD sub-committee on dogs has asked officials to identify community halls, unused municipal properties and 77 Delhi government veterinary facilities as potential shelter sites. But none of these are equipped for long-term animal care. Then comes the issue of catching and transporting a million dogs, which itself would require hundreds of animal catchers, trained handlers, ambulances, and quarantine units -- all of which the MCD lacks. At present, only two dog-catching vans operate in each of the 12 administrative zones. Even the SC's directive to start with 'ferocious' dogs poses logistical hurdles. The MCD plans to prepare a list of 1,000 aggressive dogs per zone — 12,000 in total — based on repeated bite complaints. But officials admit that identifying and capturing even this smaller group will stretch resources. Experts warn Animal welfare groups have reacted sharply to the SC order, warning of mass suffering if dogs are removed en masse without infrastructure. 'This is not public safety -- it is an inhumane approach that will backfire,' said Sanjay Mohapatra of House of Strays. 'Attempting to build and maintain enough shelters for these numbers overnight is impossible. Overcrowding will cause immense suffering, spread of disease, and deaths.' Gauri Maulekhi of People for Animals said the MCD's own facilities are already 'underperforming' and cannot handle lifetime care. 'Existing NGO shelters are overcrowded. Without capacity, any large-scale capture will end in disaster,' she said, accusing authorities of inflating sterilisation figures and refusing independent oversight. Many experts point to the failure of the MCD's ABC and vaccination programme as the root cause. According to an MCD report, 2,70,172 dogs were sterilised over the past three years — about 10,000 a month. Over seven years, officials claim nearly 700,000 sterilised, but activists dispute the numbers. 'Even if these numbers were accurate, sterilisation has to be sustained at over 70% coverage in each locality to stabilise populations. That has not been happening,' Maulekhi said. Sonya Ghosh, an activist who has worked on setting up feeding points in Delhi, said the ABC centres themselves have minimal capacity. 'Most hold only 20–30 dogs at a time — just enough for one surgical batch. The city's 77 veterinary hospitals are poorly staffed, under-equipped, and not being used for animal care as they should be.' Several activists have also stressed that the eight-week timeline set by the SC is not grounded in operational reality. Maneka Gandhi said any attempt to rush the process would cause 'dogs to be crammed together in unsafe, unsanitary conditions' leading to high mortality. 'Dogs are territorial. Moving them en masse will make them fight. You will create a bigger problem.' The SC's order also raises legal contradictions. Under the ABC Rules, community dogs must be sterilised, vaccinated, and released back to their territories — not permanently relocated. Mohapatra warned that bypassing this framework could invite legal challenges and worsen human-animal conflict. 'The law is designed to stabilise populations over time while maintaining community balance,' he said. 'Sheltering all dogs is neither feasible nor legally supported.' As Delhi's civic bodies scramble to identify properties and prepare lists of 'aggressive' dogs, activists warn that the outcome could be chaotic: overcrowded pounds, disease outbreaks, mounting public complaints, and massive financial strain.
