Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey on Tuesday reviewed the operations and future expansion plans of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) during a one-day visit to Chhattisgarh, while also holding discussions with Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on coal production, infrastructure and energy security.
During the meeting in Raipur, the Union Minister and the CM discussed strengthening coordination between the Centre and the state to accelerate development projects in coal-bearing regions, improve logistics connectivity and create employment opportunities linked to industrial growth.
Dubey appreciated the support extended by the Chhattisgarh government to the coal sector and said collaborative efforts between the Centre and the state would further enhance the region’s contribution to India’s energy security.
Later, the minister chaired a high-level review meeting attended by SECL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Harish Duhan, senior officials of the Coal Ministry and company executives.
The review covered coal production, dispatch, safety standards, quality management, digitisation initiatives, environmental sustainability measures, coal gasification projects, mine closure activities and corporate social responsibility programmes.
Emphasising safe and sustainable mining, Dubey called for wider adoption of modern technologies and greater operational efficiency in coal production. He said SECL continues to play a major role in strengthening the country’s energy security and praised the company’s efforts in maintaining safety and environmental standards.
The minister also stressed that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives should remain focused on inclusive development and welfare activities in coalfield regions.
During the meeting, Duhan said SECL had contributed 26.86 million tonnes to Coal India Limited’s cumulative production milestone of 100 million tonnes in the ongoing financial year 2026-27. He reiterated the company’s commitment to meeting the country’s rising energy demand.
As part of SECL’s digital transformation drive, Dubey launched the e-DADAS (Design and Drawings Approval in SECL) Portal and the Hospital Management and Information System (HMIS) Portal.
According to the Ministry, the e-DADAS portal will enable online examination, monitoring and approval of engineering designs and drawings for infrastructure projects, improving transparency and ensuring faster execution. The HMIS portal aims to enhance healthcare services in SECL hospitals through digitisation of patient records and improved hospital management.
The Union Minister also inaugurated a state-of-the-art 5-Part Hematology Analyzer Unit at the Indira Vihar Health Centre in Bilaspur. The automated system is expected to improve the speed and accuracy of blood testing and strengthen diagnostic services at the facility.
Dubey reviewed healthcare arrangements at the centre and commended SECL’s efforts to upgrade medical infrastructure and healthcare delivery for employees and local residents.
