STATE TIMES NEWS
Kalakote: Amit Sharma, Secretary to Government, Mining Department and Director J&K Minerals Limited on Saturday conducted an extensive tour of old & traditional Coal Mines located at Moghla and Metka in Kalakote area of district Rajouri in the Union Territory of J&K.
He was accompanied with Additional Deputy Commissioner Kalakote Krishan Lal, Managing Director J&K Minerals Ltd Vikram K Gupta, Manager Projects & Agent Coal Mines Sr Kirtan Singh, Manager Coal Mines Moghla Jaymohan, Manager Metka Coal Mines Rajesh Gupta, Police Chowki Officer Teryath Raza Ali and others.
During the historical visit, Amit Sharma took a detailed review of the functioning of these historical coal mines of J&K which have been giving a consistent output of about 35-40 tonnes per day.
Amit also conducted a personal visit inside the actual coal mining areas with concerned mining staff for getting firsthand account of the working conditions inside the mines.
Afterwards, Amit held interactive session with the coal mine workers to understand their grievances in the presence of BDC Chairperson Moghla Surekha Thakur, ADC Kalakote, MD, J&K Minerals and others wherein spot directions were given to resolve their genuine grievances.
Secretary Mining further advised all local officers to conduct monthly Public Darbar in this area led by ADC Kalakote to redress genuine grievances of coal mine workers who have been working relentlessly for uninterrupted operation of Kalakote Mines which is a real pride of the nation.
Moreover, he directed MD of the Corporation to place all genuine issues of the workers in upcoming Board of Directors Meeting of the Corporation for consideration by the Board.
During the visit, Amit also appreciated the efforts of coal mine workers in Kalakote where Anthracite Coal is being extracted which is comparable with top quality coal being produced globally in Australia globally and locally in Assam at national level.
Explicit directions were given to ensure safely of these workers working in tough conditions throughout the year and he announced qualitative measures for improving living conditions of Surveyors, making common rooms, conduct of recreation activities and workers motivation skills.
Further, Amit assured local coal mine workers and visiting BDC Chairperson that there is sufficient quantity of coal availability in the Kalakote mines as per recent scientific surveys conducted in the area and there is no threat whatsoever to local workers of becoming jobless for at least next two to three decades.
Before leaving, Amit planted a sapling within the campus of Coal Mines wherein he directed MD and the operating team of the Coal Mines to convert this campus into a green field area having maximum green cover, fruit and related plantations in years to come for ensuring total ecological balancing in the years to come.