The Consultative Committee Meeting of Members of Parliament attached to the Ministry of Coal was held on Thursday, under the chairmanship of Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy. The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, members of the Committee senior officials of the Ministry of Coal and Coal Companies.

The agenda for the consultative committee meeting was ‘Technology up-gradation in Coal Companies’.  Senior officials from the ministry of coal conducted detailed presentations on the subject, highlighting key policy initiatives, progress and future plans.

Secretary, Ministry of Coal Shri Vikram Dev Dutt welcomed all dignitaries and committee members. In his address Shri Dutt mentioned that at present there is no unprecendented demand of coal in the country.

In his opening remarks, Minister of State for Coal and Mines Shri Satish Chandra Dubey noted that Coal India is not just mining coal but also working extensivelyon research and development, especially in areas like coal gasification.

Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G Kishan Reddy said that in present scenario, technology upgradation is not just an opportunity but have transformed to a permanent objective. Minister noted that the government is making use of technology to improve all aspects of coal sector including Production, Safety, Efficiency and Environmental Responsibility. Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the coal sector is undergoing a disruptive technological transformation. Citing examples of use of drone technology in surveying, 3D laser scanning, AI & ML based predictive analytics etc, shri Reddy said that the sector is moving from traditional mining to smart, safe and digital mining.

Minister also appraised the committee about the efforts of the ministry to adopt advanced solutions such as Carbon Capture and Storage, Biomass cofiring and Coal Gasification. Minister observed that continuous innovation and technology integration are the future of coal sector.

Delivering the presentation on the technology upgradation in Coal India Limited, Shri. B Sairam, Chairman, CIL, informed that CIL is undertaking major technology upgrades across its operations. This includes using advanced tools like 3D seismic surveys and drones for exploration, and modern equipment such as continuous miners and highwall systems to boost efficiency and safety. The company is also improving infrastructure with new railway corridors and conveyor systems to enhance coal transport and reduce environmental impact. Digital transformation is being driven by initiatives like SAP ERP and 5G-enabled IoT systems. Furthermore, CIL is focused on clean coal technologies and sustainable mining through research and collaborations with top Indian institutes, the presentation highlighted.

With reference to the technology upgradation in Neyveli Lignite Corporation, it was informed that NLC has significantly advanced its operations through comprehensive digitalization initiatives. It has implemented dynamic dashboard for digitalizing land records across all Neyveli complexes and outside projects and a digital logistic management system for overseeing and managing coal dispatch. Real-time monitoring is achieved using OITDS and Geo-fencing technology, while terrestrial 3D laser scanners and drones are employed for efficient mines surveying. NLC has also implemented a fuel management system to prevent pilferage and misuse.

The committee was appraised of the technological upgradation of Singareni Collieries Company Limited as well. It was informed that the key operational enhancements include an Integrated Control and Command Center, 3D laser scanning, DGPS, and drone-based GIS surveys. Safety and logistics are being improved with an Intelligent Coal Logistics Dashboard, visual monitoring systems, and safety devices installed in over 410 dumpers. The members of the committee were also briefed about the technological initiatives undertaken by the Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation.

Committee members appreciated the Ministry’s proactive efforts and provided suggestions for optimizing output of coal companies, by using technology up-gradation.

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Shuhaib T

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