The Ministry of Coal has published the high-powered expert committee (HPEC) report on the gainful utilisation of overburden (OB) in the coal sector.
The HPEC, comprising experts from various ministries, NITI Aayog, and coal companies, examined ways to repurpose OB—typically composed of soil, rock, and other discarded materials during coal mining—into valuable resources for economic growth and environmental sustainability.
The report outlines strategies for processing OB to produce manufactured sand (M-sand), which can be used in construction projects. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on river sand, mitigating associated environmental degradation and contributing to sustainable development.