SCCL turns reclaimed mine into eco-park
Kothagudem: Under a major green initiative, the state-owned Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) has transformed its underground mining site, which was closed some time back, into a tourism project. More such projects are on the way, an official said.
The park has come up at the Gautham khani opencast mine at Gauthampur in Chunchupalli mandal at Rs 4.6 crore and will soon be opened for the public.
The park, spread over 20 hectares at the backfill area of Gowtham project, will have a butterfly park, a biodiversity park, a view point and two ponds with boating facility.
SCCL’s deputy general manager (forestry) Harinarayana said that the miner had decided to develop 11 eco-tourism parks in its reclaimed sites in six districts within two years. The sites are yet to be identified, he added.
The butterfly park features a range of species and is spread over 4,000 square metres of lawns with 5,000 flower and horticulture plants besides palm trees.
The host plants include Ceiba pentandra (kapok), Aegle marmelos (Maredu), Lime, Polyalthia (Ashoka), Feronia Limonia (wood apple), Calotropis (Jilledu), and others. The nectar plants include Lantana, Jatropha, Hibiscus, Pentas, Cannas, Ixora among others.
In addition to this, a cycling track has been developed in the eco-park. A tower set up in the park facilitates visitors to view mining operations in Venkatesh khani mega opencast mine.
The eco-park is used for recreation of SCCL workers and public.
Ponna Somaiah, a former employee of SCCL, said that miners prefer to spend their leisure time in a pleasant and healthy atmosphere due to the nature of their jobs.
In another environmental measure, the SCCL is using discharge water at mines at Kothagudem for industrial and domestic purposes such as dust suppression, stowing, washing of machinery, fire fighting and plantation. After meeting the industrial requirement, part of the excess discharge water is supplied to SCCL colonies and surrounding villagers for drinking purposes after treatment.
The remaining water is channeled through settling tanks before discharging it into nearby agriculture tanks for community use. About 100 surrounding villages benefit from mine water.