MoU signed in the presence of Union Coal and Mines Ministe G Kishan Reddy
HYDERABAD, JULY 03, 2025: In line with the directions from the Ministry of Environment and Forests to significantly increase greenery in coal mining areas, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the prominent yoga and environmental conservation organisation, Heartfulness Institute (Kanha Ashram), to undertake large-scale plantations and implement various eco-friendly initiatives in its mining regions.
On Thursday, the MoU was signed at Kanha Shanti Vanam Ashram near Hyderabad in the presence of Union Coal and Mines Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy, with SCCL CMD N. Balram and Heartfulness Institute Director Shri Sanjay Sehgal signing the agreement. A similar MoU has also been signed by Coal India with the Heartfulness Institute.
Under this agreement, Kanha Ashram (Heartfulness Institute) will establish nurseries and undertake large-scale plantation drives, nurturing the saplings while also developing eco-parks, creating rainforests, and establishing green fences as part of eco-friendly initiatives. Trees will be planted along overburden dumps of open-cast mines, in vacant lands, along coal transport belts, and on roadsides. Efforts will be made to ensure that over 90% of the planted saplings survive and grow into trees. The Heartfulness Institute will also involve the local village communities in these initiatives, supporting their needs and providing employment opportunities.
Singareni has already been actively contributing to environmental protection through large-scale plantation initiatives, having planted and developed approximately 70 million saplings across 14,900 hectares, turning them into thriving green cover. SCCL Chairman and Managing Director Shri N. Balram stated that as per the directions of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, these initiatives will now be further intensified through the MoU with Kanha Ashram (Heartfulness Institute). The MoU will enable SCCL to undertake such eco-friendly activities in the six districts where it operates with the support and cooperation of Kanha Ashram.
He expressed that Kanha Ashram has earned a good reputation by conducting large-scale yoga programs and environmental initiatives, and shared his happiness that SCCL would be collaborating with them in implementing environmental and community welfare programs.
The event was attended by Minister of State of Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey, Additional Secretary Rupendra Brar, SCCL Director (PA&W) Gautham Potru, and other officials.
