BCCL to launch ‘Coal Neer’ bottled drinking water project using treated mine water
PNS
Dhanbad
Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) is set to transform mine water into safe drinking water under its ambitious ‘Coal Neer’ project, marking a significant step toward sustainable water management. The purified water will be bottled and marketed under the Coal Neer brand.
The company’s first bottling plant is being established at the Putki-Balihari (PB) Area Office in Dhanbad at an estimated cost of ₹20 million (₹2 crore). BCCL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Manoj Agrawal recently reviewed the progress of the project and inspected the bottling facility.
According to Agrawal, water extracted from underground coal mines will be treated using advanced Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology to make it suitable for human consumption. Initially, the bottled water will be supplied for use within BCCL establishments before being introduced to the commercial market.
PB Area General Manager G.C. Saha said the plant will have a purification capacity of 20 litres per minute. The treated water will be packaged in 250 ml, 500 ml and one-litre bottles.
The project is expected to be inaugurated on June 30, possibly by the Union Coal Minister, although the official schedule is yet to be confirmed.
The Coal Neer initiative aims to convert mine water—traditionally considered a by-product of coal mining—into a valuable drinking water resource. Besides promoting sustainable water management, the project is expected to reduce environmental impact and improve resource efficiency in mining operations.
If the pilot project proves successful, BCCL plans to replicate the model across its other mining areas, making it a landmark initiative in environmental sustainability and responsible mining practices in India’s coal sector.
