Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL), a Coal India subsidiary, has implemented AI-powered drone technology to study environmental restoration through scientific land reclamation efforts at its mining site in West Bengal's Sonepur-Bazari area, as per PTI report.
ECL has initiated a drone-based environmental assessment programme at its Sonepur-Bazari mining location in West Bengal.
The effort uses AI-powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for orthomosaic mapping, high-resolution imaging, GIS- and GPS-based spatial validation, and vegetation health monitoring. The goal is to accurately evaluate the status of green cover and land restoration activities.
The assessment incorporates geospatial analytics and ground ecological surveys to analyse plantation survival rates, canopy development, species diversity, and spatial distribution. These combined methods enable detailed monitoring of reclamation efforts in mined-out areas.
The Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CSIR-CIMFR) is conducting the reclamation study for ECL.
The advanced insights offered by the drones help in quantifying the success of ecological restoration during and after mining.
The results guide the planning of mine closures and ecological management strategies across reclaimed sites.
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Using AI technology and UAVs ensures greater accuracy, consistency, and scalability in environmental assessments.
The process supports better decision-making based on data, enabling monitoring that aligns with regulatory and sustainability goals.
It also reduces manual intervention and boosts transparency in reporting environmental performance.
Eastern Coalfields Ltd operates coal mines in both West Bengal and Jharkhand. The company is targeting a coal production of 58 million tonnes in 2025-26.
Implementing tech-enabled monitoring tools forms part of its broader effort to comply with environmental norms and improve rehabilitation practices in mined-out zones.
As of January 07, 2026, at 3:30 PM, Coal India share price on NSE was closed at ₹431.65 up by 1.08% from the previous closing price.
Eastern Coalfields Ltd’s adoption of AI-enabled drones at the Sonepur-Bazari mine demonstrates a shift towards technology-led environmental monitoring and reclamation tracking. The integration of geospatial data and AI analytics plays a key role in evaluating green cover and ecosystem restoration accurately.
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Published on: Jan 7, 2026, 3:51 PM IST
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