The South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India, has decided to develop its closed Manikpur Pokhri open-cast coal mine in Chhattisgarh's Korba district as an eco-tourism spot, according to a company official. This project follows a similar initiative in the neighbouring Surajpur district.

SECL, in collaboration with the Municipal Corporation Korba, will invest over Rs 11 crore to transform the Manikpur Pokhari mine into an eco-tourism destination. The company has already released Rs 5.60 crore to the Korba Collector for this purpose, said SECL spokesperson Sanish Chandra.

Mining operations began at Manikpur Pokhri in 1966 with technical consultation from Russia. However, after about 24 years, groundwater was discovered during excavation, leading to an excessive inflow that could not be drained out. As a result, the mine had to be closed, Chandra explained.

Covering an area of over 8 hectares, the mine, now resembling a lake, will be converted into an eco-tourism site. The development will include various facilities for tourists, such as boating, a floating restaurant/cafeteria, a garden in the Pokhari complex, a selfie zone, a children's play area, climbing walls, repelling walls, a zipline roller coaster, a musical fountain, and more.

This project will not only provide a new tourist destination for the people of Korba district but also create new livelihood opportunities, Chandra added. Korba district contributes about 16% of the national coal production and houses coal power plants with a capacity of approximately 6,428 MW. It is also home to the largest coal mines in Asia.

Coal India has been actively converting closed/abandoned mines into eco-tourism sites across the country. This initiative aims to make these sites popular tourist destinations while providing employment opportunities for the local population, Chandra explained. The closed mine at Kenapara in Surajpur district has already been developed into an eco-tourism site, attracting tourists from various locations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also praised this tourist destination through a tweet.