New Delhi, Jun 6 (UNI) Coal India Subsidiary Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL) opened three new coal mines in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh on Saturday having combined annual production capacity of 2.9 million tonnes.

The company will infuse total capital expenditure (Capex) of Rs 849 crore on these projects and generate direct employment for 647 persons.

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



'WCL has to produce 75 MT of coal by 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 achieve 1 billion tonnes (BT) coal production target by financial year 2023-24,' Mr Joshi said on the occasion.

The three mines which WCL has opened, are Adasa Mine, an underground to open cast mine, in Nagpur Area of Maharashtra; Sharda underground Mine in Kanhan Area and Dhankasa 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.



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 per cent of the company’s coal production.

It will also help monitor coal stocks and availability of coal at sidings, keep a tab on placement of rakes and loading at railway sidings and ensure accountability.

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