Nagpur, 10 July 2026

 

Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) has signed its fourth Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board (MBDB), Nagpur, for undertaking commercial bamboo plantation over 28 hectares of reclaimed mine land at the Dhuptala Opencast Mine in Ballarpur Area. The initiative reinforces WCL's commitment to sustainable mining, environmental stewardship and diversification of non-coal revenue streams.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Hemant Sharad Pande, CMD and Director (Technical), WCL, and Shri Rishikesh Ranjan, Managing Director, MBDB, in the presence of Shri Bikram Ghosh, Director (Finance) & Director (HR) and Shri S. S. Paranjape, Director (Technical – Projects & Planning), WCL.

With this agreement, the cumulative area under commercial bamboo plantation across WCL has crossed 121 hectares. The Dhuptala project will cover 28 hectares, including 26 hectares under commercial bamboo and 2 hectares under indigenous species such as Jamun and Arjun, with a total plantation of 31,108 saplings. WCL will invest approximately ₹ 2.57 crore during the initial five years, while MBDB will undertake plantation, maintenance, harvesting and marketing.

The 15-year project is expected to achieve payback by the eighth year. Under the revenue-sharing model, WCL will receive 85 per cent of the net profit, while MBDB will receive 15 per cent as facilitation charges.

Besides creating a sustainable non-coal revenue stream, the initiative is expected to promote ecological restoration, carbon sequestration, soil conservation, biodiversity enhancement and employment opportunities for local communities, particularly Project Affected Persons.

 

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PIB Nagpur | Shubham Gudadhe/Darshana Rane

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