NEW DELHI: Northern Coalfields Ltd ( NCL ) has received green clearance for the Rs 741.62 crore coal mining expansion project in Sonebhadra district in Uttar Pradesh.The subsidiary of Coal India Ltd wants to expand its Krishnashila open cast mine (OCP) for increasing production from 5 million tonnes per annum to 6.25 MTPA."Based on the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Committee, the Environment Ministry has granted the environmental clearance ( EC ) for the expansion of Krishnashila OCP in UP," a senior government official said.The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 741.62 crore. The EC to the project has been given subject to certain conditions, the official said.Among the conditions specified, NCL has been asked to spend at least 2 per cent of the average net profit during the three immediately preceding financial years, in pursuance of its Corporate Social Responsibility Policy (CSR).The EC is subject to obtaining NBWL ( National Board of Wildlife ) clearance and the company should obtain consent to establish and consent to operate from the concerned state pollution board prior to commencement of mining operations and effectively implement all the conditions stipulated.NCL is facing increasing demand of coal from industry and power sector. Augmentation of coal production will help NCL to bridge the demand-supply gap.In the proposal, the company said it has a mine lease area of about 851.78 hectare with coal reserves of 99.12 million tonnes. Approximately 72.94 million tonnes of mineable coal reserve are left to be mined. The company will not change its technology as well as backfilling and land reclamation plan.The company has linkage of coal with Hindalco Industries as well as Basket Linkage.