(ET)
Coal India has tied up with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop a satellite-based system to provide air pollution data online to the company and the government. In the recent past, five Coal India subsidiaries were slapped a total fine of Rs 53,331 crore by states for producing in excess of available environmental clearance limits in at least 60 mines. If Coal India has to pay the levies, its finances will be critically hit as the penalty far exceeds its reserves of Rs 38,000 crore.
Coal India has used services of satellites for monitoring land reclamation and reforestation. Satellite-based pollution monitoring system exists only at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the US.
“ISRO’s Space Application Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad has been trying to develop a similar system that is not fully functional yet. We are working with ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre for developing a new system for our mines,” said a senior Coal India executive. This will help the company dispense with the ground equipment used to monitor pollution, he said.
