As part of the nationwide “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a key subsidiary of Coal India based in Chhattisgarh, has planted an impressive 1,46,675 saplings across its operational regions in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. This large-scale afforestation effort is in line with the campaign launched by Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, in July 2024, which targets environmental conservation across all coal PSUs in India.
Spanning 8 districts in Chhattisgarh and 3 in Madhya Pradesh, SECL’s plantation drive has covered more than 56 hectares. To further foster community involvement, the company distributed 25,000 saplings to local residents near its mining areas, promoting environmental responsibility at the grassroots level.
The plantation drive under “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” was further bolstered by SECL’s participation in the “Swachhata Hi Seva” campaign, a crucial cleanliness initiative. Through this, an additional 4,200 saplings were planted, underscoring SECL’s dual commitment to environmental preservation and public cleanliness.
A notable highlight of the drive was SECL’s Kusmunda mine, the world’s fourth-largest coal mine, which achieved a significant milestone by planting 501 saplings in a single day. This event commemorated the production of 501 lakh tons (50 million tons) of coal during the FY 2023-24, marking SECL’s dedication to balancing energy production with sustainable environmental practices.
Looking ahead, SECL plans to invest Rs. 169 crore over the next five years to further its plantation efforts in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. In collaboration with the Rajya Van Vikas Nigam, the company aims to plant over 26 lakh saplings in Chhattisgarh and 12 lakh saplings in Madhya Pradesh between 2023 and 2028. The initiative also includes a four-year maintenance plan for each plantation year to ensure sapling growth and survival.
SECL is also pioneering the use of the Japanese Miyawaki technique to enhance green cover quickly. A pilot project covering 2 hectares in the Gevra Area has already begun using this innovative method. Since its inception, SECL has planted over 3 crore saplings across its coal mining regions, reinforcing its commitment to environmental sustainability.
