Three new coal mines added in Western Coalfields

Nagpur: Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), a Miniratna PSU and a subsidiary company of Coal India Limited (CIL), has opened three new coal mines in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. These mines have a combined annual production capacity of 2.9 million tonnes (MT) of coal. The company will infuse total capital expenditure (Capex) of Rs 849 crores on these projects and generate direct employment for 647 persons, the Ministry of Coal said in a statement.

The three mines which WCL has opened are:

• Adasa Mine, an underground to open cast mine, in Nagpur area of Maharashtra
• Sharda Mine, an underground mine in Kanhan area of Madhya Pradesh and
• Dhankasa Mine, underground mine in Pench area of Madhya Pradesh. 

The annual coal production capacity of Adasa mine is 1.5 MT whereas Sharda and Dhankasa mines are having annual coal production capacities of 0.4 MT and 1 MT respectively.

Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Ministry of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari and Union Minister of Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi inaugurated the mines through video conference on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion Joshi said, "WCL has to produce 75 MT of coal by the financial year 2023-24. Opening of these mines will certainly add in the efforts of the company reaching this milestone and also help Coal India to achieve one billion tonnes (BT) coal production target by the financial year 2023-24."

"Opening of these three mines is a part of WCL's future plan to start 20 new projects by the financial year 2023-24 including 14 in Maharashtra and 6 in Madhya Pradesh. The company will make a total capital expenditure of Rs 12,753 crore on these projects and generate direct employment of over 14,000" Joshi said.

Joshi also announced that different subsidiaries of Coal India have given Rs 20 crores to the government of Madhya Pradesh to strengthen its fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the state. In addition, Coal India will also give Rs 20 crores in the upcoming day to the government of Maharashtra for the same cause. 

'WCL EYE' to monitor mining operations

The company launched a surveillance system named 'WCL EYE' for monitoring of its mining operations and an app named SAMVAAD to connect with its employees and stakeholders on this occasion. WCL EYE will monitor operations of 15 major mines of the company round the clock that account for 70 percent of the company's coal production. It will also help monitor coal stocks and availability of coal at sidings, keep a tab on the placement of rakes and loading at railway sidings and ensure accountability. 'SAMVAAD' is a mobile and desktop application for employees and stakeholders, which will provide a virtual platform for the suggestion, feedback and experience sharing. Quick Response Teams will respond to the queries and feedbacks in seven days mandated period.

WCL's Mission 100 Days

WCL has launched "Mission 100 Days" a roadmap to achieve targets for the current fiscal. This mission will also help the company accomplish mid and long-term goals. The company's coal production and offtake target for the current fiscal is 62 MT.

Backdrop

The company has already opened 20 new and expansion projects in the last 6 years with over Rs 5,300 crores of capital expenditure and 5,250 direct employment to land losers. WCL had produced 57.64 MT of coal in the financial year 2019-20, up over 8 percent in comparison to the last fiscal.