G. Kishan Reddy Inaugurates Coal Neer Plants at BCCL, CCL to Transform Mine Water into Safe Drinking Water

Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy on Tuesday virtually inaugurated Coal Neer packaged drinking water plants established by Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) in its Putki-Balihari (PB) Area and Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) in the Piparwar Area, marking a significant step towards sustainable mine water management and improved drinking water availability in coalfield regions.

The initiative aims to scientifically treat mine water and convert it into safe drinking water while promoting environmental sustainability, resource conservation and community welfare.

The event was attended by Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh, Coal Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt, Additional Secretaries Sanoj Kumar Jha and Rupinder Brar, Coal Controller Sajeesh Kumar N., Coal India Chairman B. Sairam, CMDs and Directors of Coal India subsidiaries, along with senior officials of the Ministry of Coal.

Addressing the gathering, G. Kishan Reddy said the Ministry of Coal is committed not only to strengthening India’s energy security but also to protecting the environment, ensuring scientific utilisation of natural resources and promoting sustainable development in mining-affected regions. He described the Coal Neer initiative as an innovative model that transforms treated mine water into clean and safe drinking water, creating long-term environmental and social benefits for coalfield communities.

BCCL’s Putki-Balihari Coal Neer Plant

BCCL has established its state-of-the-art Coal Neer RO bottling plant in the Putki-Balihari Area at an investment of approximately ₹2 crore. The semi-automatic facility has a production capacity of 3,000 litres per hour and is equipped with advanced technologies including pre-treatment, reverse osmosis (RO), UV sterilisation, ozonation, automated bottle manufacturing, rinsing, filling, capping, labelling, packaging and quality testing.

The plant will produce packaged drinking water in 250 ml, 500 ml and one-litre bottles, besides 20-litre jars. In the initial phase, Coal Neer will be supplied to the BCCL headquarters, area offices, government establishments and other institutions.

A key feature of the project is that it will be operated through women’s self-help groups (SHGs), generating employment opportunities while promoting women empowerment in coalfield communities.

The inauguration programme at the Putki-Balihari Area was attended by BCCL Director (Human Resources) Murali Krishna Ramaiah, Director (Finance) Rajesh Kumar, Director (Technical) Sanjay Kumar Singh, Director (Technical/Projects & Planning) Rajiv Kumar Sinha, Regional General Manager Jayanta Kumar Das, senior officials from Coal Bhawan and the PB Area, members of the Central Consultative Committee and Welfare Board, employees and representatives of recognised trade unions.

During the ceremony, BCCL officials described Coal Neer as a visionary initiative that integrates water conservation, environmental responsibility, women empowerment, employment generation and community welfare. Following the inauguration, officials and trade union representatives inspected the facility and appreciated its modern infrastructure and advanced purification system.

CCL’s Piparwar Plant

The Coal Neer plant established by Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) in the Piparwar Area was also virtually inaugurated by G. Kishan Reddy during the national event. The project reflects CCL’s commitment to sustainable mining by converting treated mine water into safe drinking water for institutional and community use.

The Piparwar facility forms part of Coal India Limited’s broader strategy to utilise mine water scientifically, reduce wastage of natural resources and improve drinking water accessibility in coal mining regions. Together, the BCCL and CCL plants demonstrate how coal mining infrastructure can be leveraged to deliver meaningful environmental and social outcomes.

Strengthening Coal India’s Sustainability Mission

The Coal Neer initiative represents an important milestone in Coal India Limited’s sustainability and ESG agenda. Mining operations generate substantial quantities of mine water, and the initiative seeks to convert this valuable resource into potable drinking water through advanced treatment technologies instead of allowing it to go to waste.

Besides ensuring access to safe drinking water, the initiative promotes responsible water management, environmental conservation, circular utilisation of natural resources and livelihood generation through women’s self-help groups.

With Coal India subsidiaries progressively establishing Coal Neer plants across the country, the initiative is expected to become a flagship example of how sustainable mining practices can create lasting benefits for employees, local communities and the environment while reinforcing the coal sector’s commitment to responsible development.