Evaluating the Effectiveness of Environmental CSR Practices in the Mining Sector: Evidence from SECL

Abstract

The mining sector is inherently associated with significant environmental challenges such as land degradation, biodiversity loss, and pollution, raising critical concerns about sustainable resource management. Although Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), institutionalized under the Companies Act, 2013 in India, provides a formal mechanism to address these concerns, limited empirical research has evaluated the actual effectiveness of environmental CSR initiatives in large public sector mining enterprises. Addressing this gap, the present study examines the role and effectiveness of CSR in promoting environmental responsibility, with a specific focus on South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL). The study adopts a qualitative case study approach based on secondary data collected from company reports, government documents, and relevant academic literature. Environmental CSR initiatives are analysed across key dimensions, including afforestation, land reclamation, water management, and pollution control, using criteria such as environmental impact, sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and transparency. The findings reveal that SECL has undertaken substantial environmental initiatives, including large-scale afforestation, scientific land reclamation, and the utilization of treated mine water, contributing to partial ecological restoration and improved resource efficiency in mining regions such as Gevra and Kusmunda. However, the overall effectiveness of these initiatives remains moderate due to challenges related to low plantation survival rates, inadequate monitoring systems, and limited community participation. The study further identifies a predominance of input-oriented CSR practices with insufficient emphasis on measurable environmental outcomes. Theoretically, the study contributes to the CSR literature by providing an organization-specific evaluation grounded in stakeholder and sustainability perspectives. Practically, it highlights the need for outcome-based monitoring frameworks, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and greater integration of CSR with core operational strategies to strengthen long-term environmental sustainability in the mining sector.