The government has notified the Colliery Control Rules (Amendment) 2025 to simplify the approval process for opening coal mines.

According to the Coal Ministry, the amendment removes procedural redundancies and enables faster operationalisation of mines, while ensuring continued regulatory oversight. As per the earlier norms, a coal or lignite mine owner was required to obtain prior permission from the Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO) for opening a coal mine.

The requirement of obtaining prior opening permission from the CCO has now been dispensed with this amendment. This reform would streamline the approval process, while ensuring that compliance responsibility remains firmly with the company’s highest decision-making authority.