Celebrating World Environment Day: An initiative by TERI University and Bharat Coking Coal Ltd.
New Delhi: On the Occasion of World Environment Day, TERI University in collaboration with BCCL and CMPDI, Ranchi conducted a two day Training of Trainers programme on Eco-Restoration and Livelihood activities in Coal Mining Areas. The training session was conducted under a sponsored Project funded by Ministry of Coal, Government of India titled “Sustainable Livelihood activities in Reclaimed Open Cast Mines: Technology Enabled Integrated Approach in Indian Coal Sector”.
The training took place at BCCL, Manav Sansadhan, HRD Deptt, Kalyan Bhawan, Dhanbad on 6th and 7th, June, 2017. This training was attended by 40 officials of BCCL i.e, Assistant Environment Managers, Management Trainees and other officers. The programme was inaugurated by Shri B K Panda, Director (Personnel), BCCL, Shri Dewal Gangopadhyay Director (Finance), BCCL, Dr Sapna A Narula, Associate Professor, Teri University, Dr Sudipto Chatterjee, Associate Professor, Teri University and Dr Raj Sekhar Singh, Principal Scientist, Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research. The Inauguration was followed by Welcome address by Dr Sapna A. Narula, Associate Professor from TERI University.
The training program commenced with interactive sessions conducted by experts from different fields. Dr Sapna A.Narula, Associate Professor, TERI University who leads the Livelihood component gave valuable information about the programme, she held a session on “Sustainable Eco-restoration and Livelihood Framework in Open Cast Mining Areas: A Case Study from Barora Coal Mines”. She added that till date around 270 participants at VTC Barora, undertook training programme in the areas of Mushroom cultivation, Goatery, Poultry, Integrated farming, Entrepreneurship development and Computer skill development. Dr Sudipto Chatterjee, Associate Professor, TERI University, trained the officials about the Forest landscape restoration activities at Coal mining areas of Muraidih implemented under the project. He informed how TERI University is imparting successfully Eco-restoration in degraded and mined land at Barora.
Dr Raj Sekhar Singh, Principal Scientist, Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad, informed the officials about the risk associated with Climate change and its impact in mining areas. He further had a detailed discussion and analysis on Carbon sequestration and Carbon credits. Dr Ajay Kumar Singh, Scientist,Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research took a session on Clean Coal Technologies for Decarbonization of energy sector and improvement of air quality.
On 7th June 2017, Dr S. K Maity, Professor, Department of Environment Sciences, ISM Dhanbad, held a potent session on Land reclamation and Ecological Restoration and Carbon Sequestration in Coal Mining areas which were found extremely useful by BCCL officers.
Sessions on Solar PV Applications in Coal Mines and Air and water pollution were delivered by Dr Som Mondal, Assistant Professor, TERI University and Dr.Abhay Kumar Singh, Senior Scientist, CIMFR, Dhanbad .Senior Research Fellows from TERI University Muneer Ahmad and Anushree Poddar also interacted with participants on relevant topics.