Korba (Chhattisgarh) [India], April 15 (HBTV): Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy on Thursday visited the Gevra mine of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) in Chhattisgarh and praised the miners for their efforts in maintaining continuous coal production to ensure India’s energy security.
According to an official release from SECL, the Minister was given a Guard of Honour by the CISF security contingent at Gevra House. At the mine view point, officials presented a detailed briefing on the operational highlights of the Gevra mine. Reddy felicitated miners, including women, and appreciated their contribution to uninterrupted coal production.
The Minister personally inspected the mining site, observing advanced operations involving heavy earth moving machinery such as the 42-cubic-meter shovel and the 240-ton dumper—some of the largest machines of their kind in the world. He witnessed coal extraction through blast-free surface miner technology and visited the Silos developed under the First Mile Connectivity initiative, aimed at eco-friendly coal transportation.
He also interacted with machine operators inside their equipment, which reportedly lifted the morale of the workforce. Workers expressed enthusiasm and gratitude over being directly acknowledged by the Union Minister.
A notable highlight of the visit was the Minister sharing lunch with coal workers at their canteen and taking selfies with them, reinforcing his appreciation for their contribution.
Reddy also visited the Miyawaki plantation pilot site at Gevra, where afforestation is being undertaken using the Japanese Miyawaki technique. He planted saplings at the site and inaugurated the Kalyan Mandap, a modern facility intended for employee events, reaffirming the Ministry and SECL’s commitment to employee welfare.
Highlighting the coal sector’s critical role, the Minister noted that over 70 per cent of India’s electricity is generated from coal. He emphasized the need for sustainable mining practices and the importance of a defined plan for mine closures.
Acknowledging Gevra’s contribution to India’s energy needs, Reddy remarked that the site is ‘the pride of our country’. He added, ‘While one may manage to wait for food for some time, waiting for electricity is not an option—and it is the coal miners who make uninterrupted power possible.’
The Minister was accompanied by Coal India Ltd Chairman PM Prasad, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Coal BP Pati, SECL CMD Harish Duhan, and other senior officials during the visit.
(ANI)