After Rail Neer, Here Comes Coal Neer: Union Coal Minister to Launch Pure & Safe 20-Litre Drinking Water for Just Rs 5
BCCL CMD Manoj Kumar Agarwal said, "Coal Neer is much more than a drinking water project. It is a commitment to the health and well-being of our employees, their families and the communities living in and around our mining areas
In a first-of-its-kind welfare initiative in the coal sector, the Ministry of Coal is set to launch ‘Coal Neer’, an affordable packaged drinking water project under which 20-litre jars of purified drinking water will be made available at just Rs 5.
The initiative, which is expected to be formally launched soon by Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, will initially be implemented by Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) and Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), all subsidiaries of Coal India Limited. The Ministry of Coal oversees Coal India and its subsidiaries.
Designed as a major employee welfare and community outreach programme, Coal Neer aims to provide safe, hygienic and affordable drinking water to employees, their families and residents of coal mining regions, where access to quality drinking water can often be a challenge.
Under the scheme, 20-litre jars of purified drinking water will be supplied at a highly subsidised price of just Rs 5, making it one of the most affordable packaged drinking water initiatives by any public sector enterprise in the country.
The project is expected to leverage existing infrastructure within the participating coal companies to establish water purification and distribution facilities across their mining townships. Besides improving access to safe drinking water, the initiative is also expected to reduce household expenditure on drinking water and lessen dependence on private suppliers.
Officials said the first phase will cover operations of BCCL, CCL, SECL and MCL, with the possibility of extending the initiative to other Coal India subsidiaries after evaluating its implementation and response.
The launch of Coal Neer is being seen as another significant welfare measure by the Ministry of Coal, complementing the sector’s ongoing efforts in employee welfare, township development and community-centric initiatives.
Commenting on the initiative, BCCL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Manoj Kumar Agarwal said, “Coal Neer is much more than a drinking water project. It is a commitment to the health and well-being of our employees, their families and the communities living in and around our mining areas. By making safe, purified drinking water available at a highly affordable price of just Rs 5 for a 20-litre jar, we are ensuring that access to clean water is never a financial burden. The initiative also reflects our resolve to utilise available resources sustainably and create lasting social value alongside our mining operations.”
