NCL COMMISSIONS NEW WHARF-WALL – AN INITIATIVE TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Stepping up environment friendly coal transportation, NCL has commissioned a new wharf wall in Jhingurda OCP at railway line used for coal transportation from the project. Prior to construction of the wharf, the coal loading was done from Coal Handling Plant (CHP) of Jhingurda. Notably, Jhingurda being the oldest mine of NCL had a dated coal handling infrastructure which resulted in high loading time. With the introduction of new wharf-wall, a significant lowering of loading time will be achieved resulting in despatching of 1-2 rakes daily helping the company enhance eco-friendly coal transportation.

At the same time, the quality of coal will also get a boost. A mobile crusher has been installed near the new wharfwall which will help send (-) 100 mm sized coal to consumers. Due to close proximity of Jhingurda OCP with Jayant and Dudhchua OCP of NCL, the company plans to use the new wharfwall for despatching coal from these two areas thereby cutting down on their road transportation.

CMD NCL Shri P.K.Sinha inaugurated the wharf wall as Chief Guest of the occasion on Friday. Director(Technical/Operations) NCL Shri Gunadhar Pandey, Director (Finance/Personnel) NCL Shri N.N.Thakur, trade union representatives Shri Ashok Dubey and Shri D.N.Singh, officers’ association representative Shri Sarvesh Singh and representative of railways, DTM Chopan Shri Ranjan Kumar were present as guests of honour.

CMD NCL Shri Sinha said that coal is national property and it is our duty to not just mine it but also evacuate the same responsibly. Recalling yesteryear days of enormous coal piling, he shared the-then thought process and vision of despatching the mined-out coal efficiently. Since then, the company has come far in building robust coal transportation systems with ever growing thrust on environment friendliness. He said the construction of wharf wall is part of the fruition of that vision. He expressed hope that soon the day will arrive when NCL Jhingurada will be able to despatch 9-10 rakes from the said wharf and will serve as an efficient back-up for despatches from Jayant and Dudhichua OCP of the company as well.

Shri Gunadhar Pandey, Director (Technical / Operations) said the company is conscious of the ways it is adopting to despatch coal and all efforts are made to make the process as much eco-friendly as possible. He iterated the company’s willpower and commitment to environment.

Shri Nag Nath Thakur, Director (Finance & Personnel) lauded team NCL for efficient financial planning of the new wharfwall and expressed hope that the railways will ensure adequate availability of the rakes.

Workers and Officers union representatives welcomed the construction of the wharf-wall and reiterated their commitment to contribute in increasing coal production and despatch targets of the company.

In first phase, there are 2 railway tracks in 350 meter long and 40 meters wide wharf wall. Deploying in-house resources, NCL Jhingurda coal area has built it at a cost of Rs 55 lakhs while its construction cost was estimated around 9.5 crores through external resources.

Shri Chitaranajan Singh, General Manager, Jhingurda welcomed the guests in the program and the Project Officer Shri Narendra Kumar presented vote of thanks. The Area General Managers and Departmental Heads of NCL alongwith employees attended the programme.

Notably, NCL is continuously developing its infrastructure to increase the transportation of coal from railways. On March 22, the inauguration of wharfwall at MGR route of Nigahi was also a part of these developments. Similar wharfwall is also being built at MGR line of Amlohri coal area which will help supply additional coal to NTPC Rihand in eco-friendly manner.