Asansol, October 30, 2026: Dr. Ashok Kumar Lahiri, Vice Chairperson, NITI Aayog, concluded his two-day visit to Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) on Thursday, reviewing rehabilitation and resettlement initiatives for families affected by mining operations and land subsidence in the Raniganj Coalfields. During the visit, he also inaugurated a ‘Waste to Wealth’ sculpture crafted from recycled industrial scrap at ECL’s Sonepur Bazari Area under Special Campaign 6.
The visit commenced on Wednesday evening with a presentation on Raniganj Coalfields and Raniganj Coalfields Master Plan at a meeting hosted by ECL in association with the Paschim Bardhaman District Administration, Government of West Bengal. Dr. Lahiri was welcomed by Dr. Satish Jha, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, ECL. The meeting was attended by Shri Anupam Lahiri, ADG & PD (Mines & Minerals), NITI Aayog; Shri Ponnambalam S., IAS, District Magistrate, Paschim Bardhaman; Shri Vivek Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA); Shri Girish Gopinathan Nair, Director (Technical/Projects & Planning), ECL; and senior officials of the state government and ECL.
On Thursday, Dr. Lahiri visited the rehabilitation site under Raniganj Master Plan at Andal to review the progress of rehabilitation and resettlement works and assess the facilities being developed for affected families.
He subsequently visited the Sonepur Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) site, where he interacted with local residents to understand their concerns and aspirations. Reviewing the civic amenities provided to rehabilitated families, Dr. Lahiri expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved and the facilities developed at Sonepur village.
At Sonepur Bazari Opencast Project (OCP), Shri Shambhu Kumar Jha, General Manager, Sonepur Bazari Area, made a detailed presentation on the project’s mining operations, environmental protection initiatives and reclamation measures. Dr. Lahiri appreciated the progress made by the Area, offered suggestions and expressed confidence in its continued performance.
A highlight of the visit was the inauguration of a ‘Waste to Wealth’ Coal Mining Heritage Sculpture at the ICL Gate of Sonepur Bazari Area. Developed under Special Campaign 6, the sculpture is a replica of the Marion 7820-15 dragline operating at Sonepur Bazari OCP. Crafted from discarded materials recovered through a scrap park cleaning initiative, the installation symbolises the creative reuse of industrial waste while showcasing the region’s coal mining heritage. The initiative underscores ECL’s emphasis on recycling, resource efficiency and environmental sustainability in line with the principles of a circular economy.
Dr. Lahiri also visited Jhanjra Underground Mine to gain first hand insights into ECL’s mechanised underground mining operations.
