In line with the clarion call given by the Prime Minister to provide potable water in remote villages under Jal Jeevan Mission, Western Coalfields Ltd., (WCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd.(CIL) is transforming lives of villagers by not only providing purified potable mine water at their doorstep but also generating revenue for the women folks of the villages under Self Help Group (SHG) Scheme. Other coal companies of CIL have also embarked upon ambitious project of gainful utilisation of potable mine water in the nearby villages. An integrated water purification cum bottling Coal Neer complex has been set up at Patansaongi village, around 25 kms from the city by WCL which has a capacity to purify 2.5 lakh litres of water per day. It has a RO based 5 stage water purification plant with a capacity of more than 10,000 litre per hour along with a bottling capacity of 15,000 bottles per day.

 

The water is sourced from nearby Patansaongi underground coal mine. Under a unique scheme, WCL has collaborated with the Women SHG of Patansaongi village for distribution of purified Coal Neer in a 20 litre jar at the doorstep of nearby villagers. Each jar costs Rs 5, out of which Rs 3 is retained by SHG. This helps in not only getting purified water by each villager but also gives immense opportunity to earn by the village women. Around 10,000 population in 8 nearby villages have been benefitted with this facility and coverage in other villages is increasing day by day. On similar lines, other coal companies of CIL with SCCL and NLCIL have started providing surplus mine water to villages in and around their command area for domestic and irrigation purpose. Ministry of Coal has drawn an ambitious plan to provide 4600 lakh cubic meter of surplus mine water for use to nearby villages of different coal companies in next five years.