Public Endorsement Bolsters Kente Extension Coal Mine Project in Chhattisgarh

The public hearing for the Kente Extension coal mine project in Surguja, Chhattisgarh, concluded successfully. State-owned RRVUNL aims to boost coal production with this new mine, reducing Rajasthan's dependency on external coal sources. Significant local support and CSR initiatives were highlighted during the event.

The public hearing for the proposed Kente Extension open-cast mine project, organized by the Environmental Protection Board in the Udaipur Block of Surguja district in Chhattisgarh, concluded successfully on Friday. The project, spearheaded by state-owned Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RRVUNL), aims to establish a new captive coal mine covering 1,760 hectares with an annual production capacity of 11 million tonnes, complemented by a state-of-the-art washery project.

This move follows the successful 12-year operation of the Surguja-based Parsa East Kente Basan (PEKB) Block, which yields 15 million tonnes of coal annually. Alongside the Kente Extension and PEKB Block, the Indian government has also allocated the Parsa Block to RRVUNL in the Surguja district. Enhanced access to coal from these captive mines is expected to reduce Rajasthan's reliance on Coal India and costly imported coal to power its generation units.

The Ministry of Coal has bestowed the PEKB Block with a Five-Star Rating, recognizing its exemplary operational standards. RRVUNL has invested heavily in corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, focusing on education, healthcare, livelihood, and rural infrastructure development. Despite adverse weather, thousands of villagers from Kente, Basen, Chakeri, Parogiya, and surrounding areas gathered to support the public hearing. The event, chaired by Vijay Singh Porte, the Environmental Protection Board Regional Officer, and Sunil Kumar Nayak, the Additional District Magistrate, lasted seven hours.

Additional key attendees included Deputy Sarpanch of Parsa Ganeshram Yadav, who praised RRVUNL's efforts in transforming previously mined land by planting over 12 lakh trees and commended their ongoing social initiatives. Villagers highlighted the project's potential for regional development and job creation. Officials and dignitaries also showed support for the Kente Extension Coal Block, optimistic about its promise for the area's future growth.

Trilochan Pekra from Chakeri village noted the project's potential to generate employment and self-sustenance opportunities, stating, "This project will provide job and self-employment opportunities to the women and youth of our village in the backward region. RRVUNL's operations and CSR efforts have demonstrated that the Nigam will bring prosperity to the locals." Urmila Pando from Basen village shared her positive experience with self-employment opportunities enabled by the PEKB Mine, expressing strong support for the new project.

VP Garg, Additional Chief Engineer of RRVUNL, provided further details about the Chhattisgarh project. The hearing was also attended by Sub-Divisional Magistrate Bansingh Netam, Town Inspector of Udaipur Chandra Kumari, and Udaypur Block Tehsildar Chandrashila Jayswal.

(With inputs from agencies.)