The Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI)-- a mini Navratna will carry out detailed Coal Exploration in Mahan North and South fields in Surguja’s Bisrampur region in Chhattisgarh, officials informed.
It is also in the process of setting up an Environment laboratory at Kusmunda mines in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh.
The most important environment related activities being carried out by CMPDI is the Environment Impact Assessment and Environment Management Plan among other key tasks for the mines of Coal India limited, officials stated.
It also undertakes environmental auditing works of different coal mining projects of Coal India limited as and when required.
CMPDI also carries out the Regional Environmental Studies for different coalfields as and when need arises.
Other important activity undertaken on regular basis by CMPDI is environmental monitoring of mines of Coal India limited on behalf of subsidiary companies for compliance of statutory direction of Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) and State Pollution Control Boards.
The South East Central Sector which includes Chhattisgarh is set to play a key role in Central government’s ambitious coal loading and transportation plans.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed recently between Ministry of Railways and Coal India limited (CIl) which will lead to procurement of 2000 wagons (33 rakes) in the first outgo, officials stated.
The agreement which will result into speedy supply of wagons for coal loading in dedicated circuits.
Initially, the rakes will be inducted and run in the 2 main coal loading Zones of Indian Railways i.e South East Central coal sector and East Coast circuit.
These rakes will be inducted in circuits for transporting coal from MCl Talcher & IB area and SECl to Paradip/Dharma ports, Vishakhapatnam area and the power houses of Nagpur/Raipur region.
Under this strategic partnership, the wagons will be procured by Indian Railways on behalf of CIl, the maintenance of these wagons will be done by Railways at its own cost. Also, the brake vans will be provided by Railways itself.
Coal India ltd is targeting production of 1 billion Tonnes of coal by 2020. Wagon availability will be a key factor for achieving this target by Coal India ltd. By signing of the MoU , the Railways and Coal India ltd will be entering into a strategic partnership which would ensure adequate wagon availability for meeting the transportation needs of coal produced by Coal India ltd.
Notably, the Central Government has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding each with the states of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh for critical coal connectivity projects to improve transportation of coal, officials informed.