Amit visits Kalakote Mines, addresses workers’ issues

Kalakote (Rajouri) : Secretary, Mining Department Amit Sharma and Director J&K Minerals Limited Saturday conducted an extensive tour of old Coal Mines located at Moghla and Metka in Kalakote area of district Rajouri.
He was accompanied by Managing Director J&K Minerals Ltd Vikram K Gupta; Additional Deputy Commissioner Kalakote Krishan Lal; Manager Projects & Agent Coal Mines Sr Kirtan Singh; Manager Coal Mines Moghla, Jaymohan; Manager Metka Coal Mines, Rajesh Gupta and others.
During the visit, the Secretary Mining took a detailed review of the functioning of these historical coal mines of J&K which have been giving a consistent output of about 35-40 tonne coal per day. Amit also went inside the coal mining areas with concerned mining staff for getting a firsthand account of the working conditions inside the mines.
Afterwards, Amit held a healthy interactive session with the coal mine workers to understand their grievances in the presence of BDC Chairperson Moghla Surekha Thakur, ADC Kalakote, MD, J&K Minerals and others. He gave on the spot directions for resolving their genuine grievances.
The Secretary Mining advised the local officers to conduct a monthly Public Darbar in the area led by ADC Kalakote to address genuine grievances of the coal mine workers, who have been working relentlessly for uninterrupted operation of Kalakote Mines which is a real pride of the nation. Moreover, he directed the MD of the Corporation to place all genuine issues of the workers in the upcoming Board of Directors Meeting of the Corporation for consideration by the Board.
Secretary Mining Amit Sharma appreciated the efforts of coal mine workers of Kalakote where Anthracite Coal is being extracted which matches top quality coal produced globally in Australia and in Assam at national level.
Explicit directions were given to ensure safety of the workers working in tough conditions throughout the year. The Secretary announced qualitative measures to improve living conditions of Surveyors, establishment of common rooms, hosting of recreational activities and imparting workers motivation skills. Further, Amit assured local coal mine workers and visiting BDC Chairperson that there is sufficient quantity of coal availability in the Kalakote mines as per recent scientific surveys conducted in the area and there was no threat whatsoever to local workers of becoming jobless for at least next two to three decades.
Before leaving, Secretary Mining Amit Sharma planted a sapling within the campus of Coal Mines wherein he directed MD and the operating team of the Coal Mines to convert this campus into a green field area having maximum green cover with plantation of fruit and related plants to facilitate maintaining of ecological balancing in the years to come.