Vivek Mukherji
Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), a CPSE under the Ministry of Coal unveiled the Chandra Shekar Azad eco-park and Coal Museum at mine No.4 of Orient Area in Ib Valley Coalfields, Jharsuguda, Odisha. The eco-park is situated at Gandghora village on the side of Jharsuguda-Raigarh National Highway 49.
The eco-park, which has been developed as part of reclaiming old and exhausted mines, has a lush green landscape, coal café and a children’s park. It was constructed by MCL in a record time after repurposing coal mine No.4 that closed production in 2017.
The Coal museum inside the park is offers a glimpse of the history and legacy of coal mining in India. Working models of different machines and vehicles used in Under Ground and Open Cast mines are on display. Coal Mining equipment and machines on display include surface miner, dumper, crane, tipper, dozer, belt conveyor, coal cutting machine, drill machine and backhoe to name a few.ity to have firsthand experience of an underground mine to the visitors.
Engaged in coal mining activities in Sundergarh, Jharsuguda and Angul districts of Odisha, MCL has backfilled and reclaimed at least 2,000 hectares of completely utilised land so far . Many quarry voids have been developed into water bodies for rain water harvesting, in line with sustainable mining practices.
