Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2026 — prior approval to open a coal mine, seam or section

Summary

Notified as G.S.R. 710(E) on 6 August 2026 under section 18 of the MMDR Act 1957, this amendment substitutes rule 9 of the Colliery Control Rules, 2004 and takes effect on publication. No colliery owner may open a coal mine, a seam or a section of a seam without the prior approval of the company's Board (or, for a statutory corporation, its governing authority); owners that are neither must obtain the Coal Controller Organisation's approval instead. In granting approval the Board must satisfy itself that every requisite permission and compliance is in place, and an intimation must reach the Coal Controller Organisation within fifteen days of opening. Sub-rule (3) applies the same requirement to restarting a mine, seam or section where operations have been discontinued for 180 days or more, and the Coal Controller Organisation maintains an indicative list of the permissions required.