Nagpur: Reinforcing its commitment to sustainable mining and business diversification, Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) signed its fourth MoU with the Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board (MBDB), Nagpur for undertaking Commercial Bamboo Plantation over 28.0 hectares at Dhuptala Opencast Mine, Ballarpur Area.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Hemant Sharad Pande, CMD and Director (Technical), WCL and Rishikesh Ranjan, MD, MBDB, in the presence of Bikram Ghosh, Director (Finance) & Director (HR), S S Paranjape, Director (Technical) (Projects & Planning), WCL.

With this agreement, the cumulative area under commercial bamboo plantation in WCL has surpassed 121 hectares, following the successful implementation of projects at Makardhokra-III OCM, Amalgamated Inder Kamptee OCM, and Sasti OCM.

The Dhuptala project envisages plantation over 28.0 hectares, comprising 26.0 hectares of commercial bamboo and 2.0 hectares of indigenous species such as Jamun and Arjun, with a total of 31,108 plants. WCL will invest approximately Rs 2.57 crore during the initial five years, while MBDB will undertake plantation, maintenance, harvesting, marketing and sale of bamboo through a transparent process. The 15-year project is expected to achieve payback by the 8th year. Under the revenue-sharing model, WCL will receive 85% of the net profit, while MBDB will receive 15% as facilitation charges.

Besides creating a sustainable non-coal revenue stream, the project will contribute to ecological restoration of reclaimed mine land, carbon sequestration, soil conservation, dust suppression, biodiversity enhancement and employment generation for local communities, particularly Project Affected Persons (PAPs).