The Jagannath Area of the Mahanadi Coalfields limited deserves a special place being the highest coal producing area of MCl with 28.34mt, which is 99.79 per cent of target (28.40MT) for the financial year 2016-17.
Due to delay in 9.75 hectares of land acquisition at Rakas village for coal production at Jagannath OCP, the company had revised the target of coal production of Jagannath Area to 28.4MT from 31MT.
Jagannath Area has two opencast mines viz Jagannath OCP and Bhubaneswari OCP. The Jagannath OCP has achieved 3.34MT of targeted coal production of 3.40MT which is 98.24 per cent achievement, while Bhubaneswari OCP achieved 100 per cent target of 25MT. The over burden (OB) removal performed by Jagannath OCP is 1.93 Cu M of 3Cu M which is 64.55 per cent of the achievement. On the other hand, the Bhubaneswari OCP has achieved 87.79 per cent of OB removal.
Safety has always been a priority for Jagannath Area. In safety parameter, zero fatality was observed during the current financial year.
In spite of about 800 hours of bandh faced by the Bhubaneswari OCP in 2016-17, the management achieved 100 per cent target.
The Jagannath Area constructed a 21km dedicated coal corridor giving the 15 MCl residential colonies and eight revenue villages a relief from severe dust pollution. It was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 243crore and opened in December last. It reduced daily movement of heavy vehicles, including coal-laden trucks through village routes and colonies.
The MCl also is also planning to construct a road from Balanda Gurudwara to FCI by the efforts of Jagannath Area. This will give a major relief to the residents of Talcher. The Jagannath Area aims to acquire Talasahi, Saharsahi and Narharipur village for extracting dry fuel. This apart, it initiated a host of development activities under CSR head.