Coal India Converts 30 Mined Out Areas Into Eco-Tourism Destinations

State-run Coal India Limited (CIL) has converted 30 mined out areas into eco-tourism destinations.

Coal India Limited (CIL) is in the process of converting its abandoned mines into eco-parks which have become popular as eco-tourism destinations. These eco-parks and tourism sites are also proving to be a source of livelihood for local populace, the Coal Ministry said on Tuesday (21 February).

Thirty such eco-parks are already attracting steady footfalls and plans are afoot for creation of more eco parks and  eco-restoration sites in CIL’s mining areas, the ministry said.

"Some of the popular destinations that provide further fillip to coal mine tourism include Gunjanpark, ECL, Gokul eco-cultural park, BCCL, Kenapara eco-tourism site and AnanyaVatika, SECL, Krishnashila eco restoration site and Mudwani eco-parks, NCL, Ananta medicinal garden, MCL, BalGangadhar Tilak eco park, WCL and Chandra Sekhar Azad eco park, CCL," it added.

Similarly, the Mudwani eco-parks recently developed by NCL in Jayantarea of Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh has a landscaped water front and pathways.

In addition, during 2022-23, CIL has already surpassed its annual plantation target of 1,510 hectares by expanding its green cover to 1,610 hectares.

The company has planted over 30 lakh saplings in the current fiscal.

According to the ministry, CIL is also using new techniques like seed ball plantation, seed casting through drones and Miyawaki plantation in its various mines.

Mined out areas, overburden dumps etc are concurrently reclaimed as soon as they get delinked from the active mining zones, the ministry said.

Various species for biological reclamation is selected in consultation with central and state-aided expert agencies, it added.

Monitoring of land reclamation and restoration is being done through remote sensing and as of now around 33 per cent area is under green cover, according to the ministry.