Coal India Limited (CIL) has drawn up a roadmap for a “just transition” in coal bearing regions, with a strong focus on creating green jobs and safeguarding the environment while ensuring national energy security. At a workshop organized at its corporate headquarters in Kolkata, CIL Chairman P.M. Prasad said the company was equally committed to supporting communities through sustainable practices.
Focus on Skilling for New Opportunities
Director (Technical) Achyut Ghatak informed that 38,000 hectares of mined land had already been successfully reclaimed and transformed into forests, parks and community-use areas. He said that the next step must be to prepare local youth for green employment opportunities in solar energy, electric vehicles and the circular economy. Such initiatives, he noted, would help generate direct and indirect employment in coal regions, supporting a balanced transition.
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Commitment to Environment Welfare
Prasad said Coal India’s responsibility to maintain the nation’s energy security goes hand in hand with environmental protection. He highlighted ongoing CSR programmes in healthcare, education, water supply, sanitation and skill development aimed at improving living standards in coalfield areas. He mentioned that the energy transition should be gradual, inclusive and locally responsive, with coal continuing to play a crucial role during the shift.
The workshop, attended by officials from Coal India’s subsidiaries, also featured a presentation by IIT Kanpur professor Pradip Swarnakar on pathways for just transformation. Participants agreed that the process must not only protect the environment but also secure livelihoods in coal-dependent districts, making Jharkhand, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh the testing grounds for India’s coal sector transition.
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