Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (Mahagenco) today commenced operations at the Gare-Palma Sector II (GP-II) coal mine located in Tamnar Tehsil of Raigarh district. The box cut activity at the mine was launched in the presence of Mahagenco’s Chairman and Managing Director, Mr. B. Radhakrishnan (IAS).
On this occasion, Director (Finance) Mr. Manish Vishwanath Waghirkar, Director Mr. Abhay Harne, Executive Director Mr. Nitin Wagh, Mr. Pankaj Sapate, administrative officers, senior officials, and the entire team were present.
Mahagenco has obtained all the required environmental, forest, mining, and administrative clearances for this project. Today the mine was formally inaugurated, and the box cut activity, conducted under all necessary operational approvals, was successfully carried out in the presence of local villagers and administrative officials. Coal production from the mine is planned to begin from the month of January.
The GP-II coal mine project is one of the largest in Chhattisgarh state, with an annual production capacity of 23.6 million tonnes. The mine will play a crucial role in meeting Maharashtra’s energy requirements, particularly ensuring coal supply to thermal power plants such as Chandrapur, Koradi, and Parli. This will enable the national grid to receive over 3200 megawatts of electricity.
The operation of this mine will significantly reduce India’s dependence on coal imports and strengthen the country’s path toward energy self-reliance through the use of domestic coal resources. It is a major step towards realizing the vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.
The project will generate around 3,400 direct and thousands of indirect employment opportunities, thereby providing new sources of livelihood for local villagers. Additionally, the operation of the mine will bring substantial revenue to the state in the form of royalty, GST, and other taxes, which will support social welfare and regional development.
On this occasion, Mahagenco’s Chairman and Managing Director, Mr. B. Radhakrishnan, reiterated that the company will continuously contribute to employment creation, revenue growth, and social responsibility initiatives such as education, healthcare, and skill development.
To maintain ecological balance, Mahagenco has committed to planting 5.64 million saplings of native species over 2256.60 hectares within 32 years.
The GP-II project represents a historic step towards inclusive development, environmental balance, and energy self-sufficiency. It will provide Chhattisgarh with long-term benefits in the form of revenue and employment.
Note: In coal mining, a box cut is an initial excavation made to begin an open-cast mine. It involves digging a rectangular pit on the surface to access the coal seam, which allows the further mining process to begin.