Coal India subsidiary Western Coalfields Limited on Saturday opened three new coal mines.
The mines were opened in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
According to India's federal ministry of coal, these mines will have combined annual production capacity of 2.9 million tonnes (MT).
The company will generate direct employment for 647 people with these projects.
"WCL has to produce 75 MT of coal by financial year 2023-24. Opening of these mines will certainly add in the efforts of the company reaching this milestone and also help Coal India achieve 1 billion tonnes (BT) coal production target by financial year 2023-24," federal minister of Coal Pralhad Joshi said.
According to officials, the three mines are Adasa Mine, an underground to open cast mine, in Nagpur Area of Maharashtra, Sharda underground Mine in Kanhan Area (Maharashtra) and Dhankasa underground mine in Pench Area of Madhya Pradesh.
"The annual coal production capacity of Adasa mine is 1.5 MT whereas Sharda and Dhankasa mines are having annual coal production capacities of 0.4 MT and 1 MT respectively," the ministry said.
Joshi said the opening of these three mines is a part of WCL's future plan to start 20 new projects by financial year 2023-24 including 14 in Maharashtra and six in Madhya Pradesh.
Editor:Cherie
