Debendra Kumar Khanda has passed FCC(Coal) in 2007 from DGMS, Dhanbad, India and completed his M.Tech.(Environmental Science & Engineering) in the year 2009 from Sambalpur University, India and M. Phil (Environmental Science) from TGOU, Nagaland, India and is doing research work at present in environmental engineering. He is the Senior Manager (Mining) of M/s Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, the second highest coal producing company of Coal India Limited. He is a Life Member of MGMI, IICM, IMMA and Fellow Member of ICER, ICCE, ISCA, MEAI and Corporate Member of Institution of Engineers(India).He is a Chartered Engineer of Institution of Engineers (India). He is the recipient of Rastriya Gourava Award from IIFC, Delhi.

India is richly endowed with many minerals. The minerals are basic and strategic materials for industrial and economic development. In mining, the possibilities of adverse effects on the environment are quite high if the adverse effects are not contained or reduced to minimum. The negative impact of mining could be controlled through the application of the concept and principles of sustainable development to mining operations. Sustainable mining is crucial for the promotion of inclusive growth. For sustainable mining, there is need of sustainable management. The important tool that is used to achieve sustainable development in mining is Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs). The most important environmental requirement for a coal mining project is a comprehensive environmental impact assessment (EIA). Sustainability principles have application for all stages of mine life cycle – exploration, mine planning, construction, mineral extraction, mine closure and post-closure reclamation and rehabilitation. These principles include elements such as intra and inter-generational equity, the precautionary principle, scientific mining, management of environmental and socio-economic impacts, creation of substitute capital in the form of social and physical infrastructure and stakeholder engagement. In this paper, the authors make effort how Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can be applied in coal mines of MCL for sustainable mining.