Tag Archives: Western Coalfields Limited

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) have entered into an agreement to allow tourists to visit the depth of a WCL coal mine in Saoner, tour an eco-park and visit the open cast mine in Gondegaon. To raise awareness about the importance of coal mining, the tourists will be taken inside Saoner Underground Mine No. 1 up to 1.5km from its entrance which is located about 37km from the city. A man riding system will take the tourists inside and WCL and a guide will facilitate this trip, taking them about 100m down from the ground surface. According to the five-year MoU signed between MTDC and WCL, the tourism facilities for visitors, bookings and marketing of the concept will be done by MTDC. Source: Economics Times

Nagpur-based Western Coalfields Limited’s effort to promote eco-friendly Mine Tourism at a green zone within a coal mining belt at Saoner village, found its mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ speech. Modi who has been encouraging people to tour different parts of the country in his speeches, said Coal India deserves special mention for creating such a facility. He said that works like WCL’s eco-park at Saoner which has drawn 10,000 visitors so far can change the mindset.The eco-park, which was started in November 2015, is a major attraction situated at around 40 km from the city. It is a forested route up to two km from the Saoner town. The park has a water body, bamboo plantation and most of the natural forest has been kept in its original shape. Around 500 visitors come here on weekly basis and the entry, is free, he said. “Normally the very name of a coal mine gives an impression that one should stay away from such a place. The pictures available show that it may not be worthwhile visiting a mining area. However, WCL has turned a coal mine into an attractive tourist spot. Developing an eco-friendly tourist circuit in a coal mine area is indeed a novel idea,” Modi said in his speech.