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The Parsa East and Kanta Basan (PEKB) coal mine in Chhattisgarh’s Surguja district is turning reclaimed mining land into a green landscape through a large-scale afforestation programme. So far, more than 1.6 million trees and saplings have been planted across 568 hectares.
Adani Enterprises operates the mine for Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd and is leading the restoration effort.
The project aims to increase green cover to over four million trees by 2030, boosting biodiversity and restoring local ecosystems.
The company plants 40 trees for every tree removed during mining and focuses on native species such as sal, mahua, tendu, amaltas and sidha.
According to the company, the plantation programme has achieved a survival rate of approximately 88 per cent, indicating strong growth and successful adaptation of the saplings.
The Union Coal Ministry recently highlighted the ecological restoration efforts at the PEKB mine, describing the project as a notable example of sustainable mining practices.
The Ministry said the site, once an active mining area, now showcases how planned environmental measures can restore ecological balance.
The company has set up a 3.5-hectare nursery that can raise about 500,000 saplings and has reported successful regeneration of sal forests in the area. It has also carried out compensatory afforestation across more than 4,000 hectares in the forest divisions of Surguja, Korea, Balrampur and Surajpur.
The company has deposited over ₹259 crore with the Chhattisgarh government for afforestation, wildlife management and other conservation programmes.
Officials said the project combines mining with ecological restoration and community development. It also supports education, healthcare and livelihood opportunities in nearby areas.
The company says it complies with all environmental and forest clearance norms and regularly submits monitoring reports to state and central authorities.
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