R Krishna Das
Coal India Limited (CIL) had taken a big leap forward in utilizing the mine water for domestic consumption and irrigation especially in the drought-hit pockets of Vidarbha in Maharashtra.
According to the data shared by coal minister Pralhad Joshi regarding community utilization of mine water generated in the CIL mines during financial year 2019-20, 1154 lakh cubic meter (cum) of water was used for irrigation. It could facilitate irrigating 2650 hectare of land across the seven states where the state-owned miner has mines.
Joshi, in a tweet, informed that nearly 7.5 lakh people in 600 villages across 7 states were benefiting from this initiative that has also come as a boon for several areas facing water crisis in Maharashtra and other States.
In the process of coal mining, huge volume of mine water gets collected in mine sumps and subsequently pumped out to surface. By application of appropriate treatment methods, the available mine water may be used for drinking and irrigation purposes.
CIL is already doing a commendable job in supplying mine water to the communities close to its operative mines.
The Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) takes the lead in irrigating maximum areas in Vidarbha region that frequently reels under nature’s fury. Pumping 788 lakh cum water, WCL had helped irrigating 1084 hectare of land in the region.
Another arm of CIL, the Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) with its headquarters in Jharkhad’s Dhanbad, tops the list in domestic consumption. Local communities had utilised 765 lakh cum water for domestic use that flowed down out BCCL mines.
Excellent work 👌👌