NGT ban on coal mining helps reducing acidity levels in Kopili Hydro Project reservoir

The decade-long ban on coal mining in Meghalaya has begun showing visible environmental gains atleast for the reservoir of Kopili Hydro Electric Project which is an inter-state project located along the Assam Meghalaya Border

NEEPCO Executive Director Jayanta Sharma revealed that the prohibition on rat-hole mining, imposed by the NGT in 2014, has significantly helped reduce acidity levels in the reservoir of the Kopili hydroelectric project, located along the Assam–Meghalaya border.

Once severely affected by acidification linked to unregulated coal mining, the reservoir is now witnessing gradual improvement in water quality — a positive sign for both the health of the river system and the efficiency of the power project.