Hyderabad/Kolkata, Nov 2 (UNI) Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy today virtually addressed the 51st Foundation Day celebrations of Coal India Limited (CIL) held in Kolkata, extending greetings to the “energy warriors” of the organisation and lauding their contribution to the nation’s power security.
Congratulating the workers, officials, and stakeholders of Coal India, the Minister said the company has been the backbone of India’s power system for over five decades and continues to play a crucial role in the country’s energy growth.
“Coal India has provided invaluable services to the nation for the past 51 years and remains the largest coal-producing company in the world,” he noted.
Highlighting the need to balance energy security with climate goals, Kishan Reddy said that as electricity demand is set to rise sharply by 2030, the country must ensure universal access to affordable power while reducing dependence on imports.
He called for innovation, technology adoption, and policy reforms to make Coal India a global leader in smart and clean coal production.
“The coming decade will be the decade of clean coal energy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 must be driven by Coal India,” the Minister said, urging greater use of solar power, CNG, electric vehicles, and carbon-reducing technologies.
Reddy highlighted major reforms under the Modi government, including the Koala Shakti dashboard, AI-based command control centres, and a coal index-based trading system to enhance transparency and efficiency.
He also pointed out that coal production in commercial mines has risen by 30 percent in the past five years.
Emphasising worker welfare, the Minister said the ex-gratia amount for mine workers has been raised from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, and initiatives like e-Nivaran for retired employees and the CLIP portal for contract workers have been launched. Coal India, he added, has spent Rs 6,400 crore on CSR, supporting education and healthcare in mining regions.
“We are closing old mines in an eco-friendly way and developing green belts to restore the environment,” he said, expressing confidence that by 2047, when Coal India turns 73, it will stand as a green, digital, and globally respected mining leader, aligned with India’s vision of becoming a developed nation.
