Mining tourism to kick off in Maharashtra

If the state tourism department has its way, people will soon be able to explore mines, a la 'mining tourism circuits' in Chile, Arizona (US) and other mineral-rich regions.

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) officials recently held meetings with top honcos from central government-owned Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) and Manganese Ore India Limited (MOIL) to start package tours on a revenue-sharing basis. As per plans, the mining circuit will come up in Yavatmal, Nagpur and Chandrapur mining zones. The initiative is expected to be open to the public post-monsoon, as mining operations become difficult during the rainy season.

Only adults and those without health complications like high or low hypertension, chest infection and diabetes will be permitted to visit the mines. For this purpose, a medial form will have to be filled prior to the tour. Organisers are toying with the idea of finalising the price at Rs 1200-1500 for the tour, which will last about three hours. A group of 20 will be allowed to enter the mines per session, with an official from the mining company acting as a guide. Tourists will be given information about underground mining, opencast mining, coal handling plants and mining electronics.

India ranks third in world coal production, after China and US. The first published reference of coal mining in India dates back to 1774.WCL, which has mines in has mines in Chandrapur, Ballarpur, Majri, Wani, Wani North, Nagpur and Umrer is a subsidary of Coal India Limited and has been conferred 'Miniratna' status.MOIL, also a 'Miniratna', was set up in 1896 as an arm of a UK-registered company during British rule. According to the MOIL website, at present, the body operates 10 century-old mines, of which six are in Nagpur and Bhandara districts and four are in the Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh.In 2012, then-Goa Chief Minister and current Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had mooted a similar idea, but it remained on paper. Jharkand, another mineral-rich state, had also toyed with a similar idea for years.