"CIL has envisaged to process the overburden rocks for sand production in mines where OB material contain about 60 per cent sandstone by volume which is harnessed through crushing and processing of overburden," the
Out of the five proposed plants,
Four plants -- one each in WCL, South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL), Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (
To fast-track the 'OB-to-sand' initiative, CIL has prepared a model bid document for installing more such plants across subsidiaries, in which terms and conditions have been modified for wider participation.
The successful bidder will have the liberty to decide sale price and marketability of sand produced, according to the statement.
Overburden rocks are also used in levelling up land for construction of roads and railway tracks.
WCL has sold 1,42,749 m3 of OB for road construction, formation for railways, land base levelling and other uses and earned Rs 1.54 crore.
SECL has also used 14,10,000 m3 of OB for railway siding and
Other subsidiaries of CIL are also taking similar initiatives to utilise OB for other purposes.
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