Coal Ministry forms COVID-19 monitoring cell as several ministry officials test positive

• The cell has been formed help the officers/officials working in the Ministry and their family members, including the staff of CIL, NLC India Limited, CCO and CMPFO

• The Ministry of Coal has also appointed two officers as nodal officers to the COVID-19 Monitoring Cell

New Delhi: In the wake of a large number of officers and officials at the Ministry of Coal testing positive, the ministry has formed a COVID-19 monitoring cell for its employees and their family members and for the employees of the PSUs that come under its purview — Coal India Ltd (CIL), NLC India Ltd, CCO and CMPFO. In an official order released on Friday, the ministry said, "It has been observed that a large number of officers/officials in the Ministry of Coal have tested positive for COVID-19 in the recent time and are under Home Quarantine/Admitted in Hospitals for treatment."

It added, "In this regard, the competent authority has decided to create a 'COVID Monitoring Cell' in the Ministry to help the officers/officials working in the Ministry and their family members, including the staff of CIL, NLC India Limited, CCO and CMPFO for getting logistics support and other necessary help as far as possible."

Ministry appoints 2 nodal officers for COVID-19 Monitoring Cell

The Ministry of Coal has also appointed two officers as nodal officers to the COVID Monitoring Cell. These two officers are Sanjib Bhattacharya, who is functioning as Under Secretary in the Ministry of Coal and can be reached at (+91) 9213835373, and Sunil Kumar, who is currently working at CIL's Delhi office and can be reached at (+91) 9811553855.

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"All officers/officials of the Ministry of Coal may contact the above officers for any help," said the order.

The backdrop

The order comes in the backdrop of a steep rise in COVID-19 infections in India. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, a total of 3,32,730 new COVID-19 cases were registered in the country in the last 24 hours. Ten states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Rajasthan have reported 75.01 percent of the new cases. Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 67,013. It is followed by Uttar Pradesh with 34,254, while Kerala reported 26,995 new cases. According to the Health Ministry, India's total active caseload has reached 24,28,616.

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