South Eastern Coalfields Ltd or SECL, a Coal India Ltd subsidiary, has plans to boost forest cover in the coal belt of Chhattisgarh.

As part of the initiative, it will use the popular Japanese technique in SECL’s Gevra Area, to develop Miyawaki forest in two hectares as a pilot project. The project will be implemented in partnership with Chhattisgarh Rajya Van Vikas Nigam (CGRVVN) at an estimated cost of about Rs 4 crore.

The project:

The plantation using the Miyawaki technique will be carried out over two years in which about 20,000 saplings will be planted. The plantation will include big plants such as banyan, Ficus (Peepal), mango, and the Indian blackberry or Jamun, medium plants such as Karanja, Indian gooseberry, Ashoka, etc, and small plants such as oleander, hibiscus, Tacoma, Indian berries, figs, lemon, etc.

The indigenous species of fruit-bearing, avenue, and ornamental trees would help the local communities and wildlife. The forest developed under the project would also play a key role in absorbing the dust particles and regulating surface temperature.

The company plans to spend Rs 169 crore on plantation in CG and MP over the next four years.

Besides being one of the leading coal-producing companies in India, SECL is equally committed to boosting green cover preserving the natural ecosystems in and around its coal mines, and mitigating the impact of mining.

Since its inception, SECL has planted more than three crore saplings. In FY 2023-24, the company brought 475 hectares of land under green cover and planted 10.77 lakh saplings, the highest among all Coal India subsidiaries.

The Miyawaki method of plantation was pioneered in the 70s by Japanese botanist and expert in plant ecology Mr. Akira Miyawaki. This plantation technique involves planting native trees, shrubs, and groundcover plants within every square meter. This method is ideal for small parcels of land and creates a dense canopy layer of tall trees.