Answer:

The 2025 guidelines mandate comprehensive closure provisions within every Mining Plan, categorized into two types:

• Progressive Mine Closure: Activities undertaken during the operational life of the mine, such as dump plantation and simultaneous reclamation.
• Final Mine Closure: Activities after mining ceases, focusing on repurposing the land for sustainable uses like eco-parks, water bodies, or solar projects.

Financially, closure is secured through an Escrow Account managed by the Coal Controller Organization (CCO). The deposit rates are ₹14 lakh/ha for opencast mines and ₹2 lakh/ha for underground mines, compounded at 5% annually. A significant new provision is "Just Transformation," which earmarks 10% of the closure fund for the skill development and alternative livelihoods of affected communities, ensuring a fair socio-economic transition post-closure.