In an effort to further its dedication to environmentally responsible mining practices, Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) has inked an MoU with the Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board (MBDB), Nagpur, to establish a commercial bamboo plantation project on reclaimed mine land in the Ballarpur Area of Maharashtra.
This effort is in line with WCL’s sustainability policy, which aims to balance resource extraction with environmental stewardship and community development. It represents an innovative approach to productive post-mining land utilisation.
In the presence of senior officials from both organisations, the MoU was signed by Anandji Prasad, Director (Technical/Operations) of WCL, and Kalyan Kumar, Managing Director of the Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board. Dr. Hemant Sharad Pande, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of WCL, Bikram Ghosh, Director (Finance) of WCL, and Sandeep Paranjape, Director Technical (Projects & Planning) of WCL, were also present.
The Sasti Open Cast Mine’s 19.75 hectares of Over Burden (OB) Dump site would be used to grow around 21,942 bamboo saplings, as per the agreement. During the first five years, WCL would put about 1.33 crore rupees into the project to help with its development and execution.
The construction of plantations, cultivation of bamboo, irrigation infrastructure, maintenance, harvesting, marketing, and sale of bamboo produce would all fall within the purview of the Maharashtra Bamboo construction Board. A model that can create long-term economic and ecological benefits while also being commercially viable has been developed for this project.
Under an open revenue-sharing structure, the deal will be in effect for 15 years. While MBDB will receive 15% as facilitation charges, WCL will receive 85% of the net revenues generated by the project, according to the conditions of the MoU. By the seventh year, the initiative should have paid for itself.
Dr. Hemant Sharad Pande, who spoke at the event, stressed that WCL’s duties go beyond coal production and encompass environmental sustainability and the development of a more environmentally friendly future. He brought up the point that commercial bamboo plantings are a great way to put reclaimed mining land to use in a way that benefits the environment and local economies.
Significant environmental benefits are anticipated to accompany the project’s financial potential. One way to combat climate change is to establish bamboo forests, which have a reputation for soaking up carbon dioxide. Enhancing the ecological condition of reclaimed mining regions, stabilising overburden dump slopes, reducing dust pollution, and developing green barriers are all goals of the effort.
Local communities and Project Affected Persons (PAPs) are anticipated to find employment opportunities in the project’s plantation activities, maintenance tasks, and harvesting operations. In mining regions, this is in line with WCL’s goals of community development and inclusive growth.
For commercial bamboo plantation projects, this is WCL’s third partnership with the Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board. Previous efforts were carried out with great success on 30.635 hectares of land in the Umrer Area’s Makardhokra-III Open Cast Mine and 43.045 hectares of land in the Nagpur Area’s Amalgamated Inder Kamptee Open Cast Mine, proving that the concept is effective in recovering and reusing land that has been impacted by mining.
Contributing to India’s environmental conservation goals and promoting ethical mining practices, WCL’s latest initiative further strengthens their efforts to blend sustainable land reclamation processes with economic value development.
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