ECL, West Burdwan join hands to promote sustainable mine closure
The Statesman | 7 February 2026
Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development and social well-being. A high-level meeting was held today between Mr Girish Gopinathan Nair, Director (Technical/Project & Planning), ECL, and Mr Ponnambalam S., District Magistrate, Paschim Bardhaman, to deliberate on ECL’s mine closure plan with a strong focus on community development and livelihood generation.
The discussions centred on sustainable mining practices and the repurposing of mined-out land in line with the mandate of the Government of India, with an emphasis on integrating mine closure activities with long-term socio-economic development of the affected communities.
The meeting was attended by Nitu Shukla, Additional District Magistrate (ZP), Aranya Banerjee, Additional District Magistrate (Land Reforms), along with other district administration officials and block-level revenue officers.
ECL was represented by several senior officials and representatives from the CSR department. The discussions highlighted the importance of aligning mine closure initiatives with sustainable livelihood opportunities and community welfare.
Special emphasis was laid on livelihood generation, environmental restoration and the creation of sustainable community assets to ensure that post-mining landscapes contribute positively to local well-being. Referring to the prevailing water scarcity in the district, the District Magistrate stressed the need for effective and judicious utilisation of available water resources within excavated mining areas for domestic as well as agricultural purposes, aimed at improving the quality of life of local residents.
In accordance with the mine closure guidelines, the District Magistrate, West Burdwan, constituted an advisory committee to guide and monitor the implementation of mine closure plans and associated community development initiatives. The committee will play a pivotal role in ensuring participatory planning, transparency and alignment with local developmental priorities.
Speaking on the occasion, the Director (Technical/Project & Planning), ECL, reiterated the company’s commitment to a collaborative approach with the district administration to transform mine closure activities into opportunities for inclusive growth, environmental stewardship and enhanced quality of life for communities, reinforcing ECL’s dedication to responsible mining and sustainable social development.