Sambalpur, Sep 19: A high-profile delegation of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on Friday visited the Chandra Shekhar Azad Eco-Park at Orient Mine No. 4 in Jharsuguda district of Odisha, getting a firsthand view of the sustainability efforts at Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL).

The EAC’s visit to the Eco-Park after the workshop on “Environmental and Forest Clearances” organised by MCL underscored the government’s commitment to sustainable mining, ecological restoration, and balancing coal-and-thermal sector development with environmental stewardship.

Inder Pal Singh Matharu, Chairman and other members of EAC appreciated MCL’s initiative of converting a closed underground coal mine into a recreational-cum-educational destination that can attract visitors and promote tourism in the region.

Uday Anant Kaole, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of MCL, along with Keshav Rao, Directors (HR), MCL, accompanied the visiting dignitaries and briefed them on the company’s various sustainability efforts.

The Eco-Park, built on the closed underground Mine No. 4 of Orient Area, was developed under sustainable development mandates from the Ministry of Coal. Besides a Coal Museum with working models of mining equipment and restored infrastructure such as underground galleries, lamp room, fan house, and Time Office offering a glimpse of underground coal mining, the Eco-Park also includes recreational features — children’s park, water fountain, and a cafeteria.

Yesterday, the committee had participated in the workshop organised by MCL on environmental and forest clearances, wherein several technical sessions covered best practices in project scoping, forest diversion, reclamation, plantation, biodiversity, and groundwater clearances.