About The Khanan Prahari

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Context:

The Ministry of Coal has launched the Khanan Prahari mobile app, revolutionizing the fight against illicit coal mining activities.

Relevance:

GS II: Government policies and Interventions

Dimensions of the Article:

Innovative Reporting App: Khanan Prahari is a mobile app enabling citizens to actively report instances of illegal coal mining by submitting geo-tagged photos and textual information.
Comprehensive System: The app is complemented by the Coal Mine Surveillance & Management System (CMSMS) web portal, developed in collaboration with Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space Application & Geoinformatics and Central Mine Planning and Design Institute.
Public Participation: This initiative combines advanced technology with public involvement to address illegal mining effectively.
Active Engagement: The public’s active engagement is evident with 483 complaints lodged through the app, showcasing their commitment to curbing illegal mining.

Incident Reporting: Users can report illegal mining incidents by capturing photos and providing comments.
Confidentiality: The app ensures the confidentiality of users’ identities, prioritizing privacy.
Complaint Tracking: Complainants receive a unique complaint number to track the progress of their reports easily.

Coal Importance: India ranks as the world’s second-largest coal producer and possesses the fifth-largest coal deposits globally. Coal, often called ‘Black Gold,’ is a crucial fossil fuel.
Import Dependency: Despite significant coal reserves, India imports coal due to its high consumption. Coal imports surged by 30% in 2022-23.
Major Producing States: Key coal-producing states include Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana.

Early Beginnings: India’s coal mining history spans 220 years, starting in 1774 with the East India Company in Raniganj Coalfield.
Growth Catalyst: The introduction of steam locomotives in 1853 propelled coal production.
Post-Independence: National Coal Development Corporation (NCDC) formed in 1956 for organized industry growth.
Nationalization: Nationalization of coking coal mines (1971-72) and non-coking mines (1973) aimed at addressing mining concerns and labor conditions.
Post-Nationalization: Demand-supply gaps minimal till 1991; liberalization reforms in 1993 led to captive consumption allocation.
Modernization: Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 enabled auction-based coal allocation; 2018 allowed private firms into commercial mining.