M.C.L.

- HALLMARKS
 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

MCL - Writes the agenda of Coal Industry with MANY FIRSTS

Being first to do something new, gives the kind of delight
and fulfilment of wishes that are indescribable. Whether as an
individual or as a corporate. Pandit Nehru had the vision to do
these such as establishing Steel Plants, Dams, Ports, etc etc.
Even imitation of technology/things is equally creditworthy.
So is technology fusion. Especially when the fear of failure
haunts you all the time. This feeling is more in the third world
where one cannot afford economic loss. However the story of
MCL is full of FIRSTs or being the Pioneers in introduction of
new technologies/things which has led to a Quantitative &
Qualitative improvement in all spheres of Corporate functions.
 PREFACE
Necessity is the mother of all inventions. To the proverb if we add
foresightedness and a quest to become the global leader, one would arrive
at the logical conclusion for the introduction of many new
technologies/things at MCL.
In its quest for excellence, MCL has not only become the pioneer in
introduction of new & environmentally friendly technologies / things
but has also reaped heavy dividends both in terms of economies and
consumer satisfaction.
The new technologies/ things, have not only led to an improvement
in terms of quantity and quality of coal produced but also an
improvement in the Quality of Life (QOL) of the employees. Thus MCL
has achieved many FIRSTs in coal.
This book pictorially describes the 25 Hallmarks / Landmarks in
order of their having come into existence. Readers would notice how one
Hallmark / Landmark led to the introduction of the other and the
process goes on and on.
1. DRAGLINES :1960s M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

With the planning of large opencast coal mines, dragline for the first time was introduced in Balanda Open
Cast Mines of MCL in 1960s then in erstwhile NCDC. Here also technology fusion was fast. Many mines
of MCL, NCL, SECL & WCL today have various sizes of draglines. Even ECL & BCCL have one dragline
each. Yes, we are talking of Agenda of Coal Industry which MCL has been able to set.
2. C.H.P. - 1976 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

The first Coal handling Plant started at Jagannath with the commissioning of the 1st Circuit on 1st
December 1976.
3. FEEDER BREAKERS :1983 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

Power houses were having Primary, Secondary and ball mill crushing. Uncrushed coal i.e. ROM Run-of-mine used
to be loaded in wagons. The problems of loading, unloading, and breaking of Coal were enormous both for the Mining
Companies as well as the Power Houses. The faces of even senior executives glaringly exhibited this. MCL introduced
crushers and Feeder Breakers in all the new open cast mines for () 250 mm size. While the problems at PH end
lessened to a considerable degree, it remained at the mine end at first screening of coal. Introduction of crushers and
Feeder Breakers formed another item agenda of Coal Industry. Now MCL has secondary crushers to give final product
of (-)100 mm. PH is all smiles. Consumers delight. Isnt it.
4. PAY LOADER LOADING:1984 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

Before nationalisation, wagon loading was done manually which was a tough and arduous job, especially in case of
covered wagon. There was no time schedule of supply of wagons. Be it day or night the wagon loaders were
summoned as and when the wagon reached the railway siding. There was neither spraying nor human comfort worth
the name. Post nationalisation brought in mechanisation in wagon loading. New mines were planned for pay loader
loading. The FIRST step in this direction started from MCL mines then part of Western division of CMA Coal Mines
Authority. Subsequently, in SECL when SECL came into being.
5. MERRY-GO-ROUND 1984 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

MERRY GO ROUND: Merry-go-round was first introduced in MCL at Bharatpur opencast mines
on 27th August 1984 for coal despatch to NALCO. A big agenda item for coal Industry.
6. STEEL SUPPORTS -1987 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

STEEL SUPPORT While productivity of the district / mine, OMS etc. increased with
introduction new technologies, the existing timber support could not cope up with the increase in
production for green roof support. This led to a forced switch over to steel / rope support. So
Steel supports were introduced.
7. ENGINE-ON-SYSTEM :1989 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

Then came the engine-on system which also started for the first time from MCL in 1989. Each
rake now started to be loaded in 3 hours. In this system the Engine always remains with the
rake. Turn-round of wagons increased. This not only financially benefited the railways but
increased Coal Despatch, Production, Productivity and what not.
8. SILOs - 1989 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

SILO: Next we turned towards the concern for the environment. Pay loader loading raises lot of dust
during loading creating pollution & environment problems. So, why not silo loading? The first silo came at
Bharatpur opencast for coal despatch to Nalco. Then at Belpahar .Another six in various stages of
finalization of contract. Thus an environment-friendly loading of wagons with the best turn-round /
utilization of wagons & engines
9-14. QUALITY CONTROL :1989 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

10. The first Weightometer in MCL was introduced in 1989 at Bharatpur OCP
11. On line ash analyser was introduced in 1989 at Bharatpur OCP.
12. Auto sampler was introduced in Bharatpur on 5th May 1989.
13. Auto-analyser was first introduced in 1989 in Bharatpur coal labs.
14. Bomb calorimeter was first introduced in MCL in 1989 at Jagannath.
15. LARGER OCP-1990 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

This gave us the impetus to plan for big-big opencast mines. A set of half a dozen Mega
Opencast Mines were planned & executed in 90s. The size varied from 10.00 Mty. to 15.00
Mty. to now 20.00 Mty. This was another step towards rewriting the agenda of coal industry.
16. S.D.Ls - 1993 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

Side Discharge Loader / Load Haul Dumper: In underground mines, there was either pick mining or
drilling, blasting, manual loading in tubs. This was not only unsafe but inhuman too causing lots of
accidents and fatalities. This led to the introduction of SDL side discharge loader by MCL to do away
with manual loading of tubs. Subsequently, LHD- Load Haul Dump. Manual loading has been almost
phased out. Even Haulages are being phased out. Cross country conveyor .. Conveyor are replacing
them. Use of continuous miner in some underground mines is also proposed. Of course, this is not a
mean item of agenda.
17. GOLF - 1998 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

Golf An 18 holes Golf Course was laid down on 13th of March 1998 in Jagruti Vihar Colony. MCL
was the FIRST Coal Company to own a Golf Course. However not satisfied with just a single Course
MCL planned and built three more 9 Holes Golf Course in each of its fields namely Jagannath,
Lakhanpur & Basundhara. (Pic. Shown is of Basundhara Golf Course)
18. GYM & SAUNAs - 1998 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

Gym of MCL Hq

Gymnasium : 2 Nos of Gyms, one at Indradhanush Club at Lakhanpur and the other at MCL
Headquarters.
Sauna, Steam bath : A Steam bath & Sauna was installed at MCL Officers Club Jagruti Vihar at MCL
Headquarters in 1998
19. SURFACE MINERs :1999 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

With the increase in volume of Production tackled, MCL took the problems of quality head-on. Various options like
blending, washing, selective mining, etc. were brainstormed and debated. However the Consumers were unwilling to
bear the increase in cost. Moreover Rail/road transport was conveniently able to take the increased load and Power
reforms were yet to come up. So, there wasnt any compelling reason to achieve the much desired quality. Yet MCL on
its own made a hunt for a suitable technology for selective mining which would lead to production of Quality Coal at
cheaper cost and Surface Miner technology was uncovered. After a lot of hullabaloo, common phenomena in Public
Sector Undertaking when implementing a new thing, the Surface Miners were introduced in 1999 with lots of pomps &
vigour. Another feather in the cap of MCL which was replicated by other coal companies subsequently.- SCCL, CCL,
SECL.
20. SAFETY RECORD - 2000 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

SAFETY RECORD: Coal Mining is a hazardous profession and thus the safety of workers is
foremost in our agenda. With the introduction of wagon loading by pay loader, surface miner in
opencast and SDL & LHD and steel support it emboldened us to take on the bad safety
performance. Various innovative ideas /initiatives were pumped in to perfect the safety
awareness among employees. This resulted in a world record in safety performances in
Coal Mines in 2000. This feat was repeated in 2006 as well.
21. CAP/JERSEY/BLAZER - 2006 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

Human Development in Coal Industry generally means a little bit training of executives at its MTI Management
Training Institute and for Non-Executives at its 2 BTI centres. These are huge building equipped for imparting the
ritualistic training call it statutory training to its employees.. However there was no post training evaluation parameters
to identify the BEST among them and neither the Management nor the supervisors & workers were satisfied. This led
to the setting up of various parameters for identification and selection of Cap/Jersey/Blazer holders amongst workers
& supervisors. The FIRST in the Colliery, FIRST in the Area and FIRST in the Company respectively are tilted
cap/jersey/ blazer holders. Not to stop here, the winners are being trained at Puri, Ranchi, IICM & Kolkata for
knowledge & skill up gradation & personal development. Cap/Jersey/Blazer holders have been identified in executives
separately by holding personal interviews.
22. BALASTLESS TRACKS - 2006 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

Kanika Siding, Basundhara

Ballastless track in sidings was first introduced in MCL in 2006 . Using Ballasts resulted in high
maintenance cost as because coal had to be again separated from the ballasts. Using Ballastless tracks
eliminated the job of cleaning thus saving in Maintenance Costs.
23. AC CANTEENS M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

A C. Canteens: Due to the extreme condition in the Summers out of a total of 34 Canteens most of the
Canteens of the Fields have been fitted with Air Conditioners. ( Pic shown is of Lakhanpur
O.C.P.Canteen)
24. SWIMMING POOLS M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

Swimming Pools : 3 Nos of Swimming Pool exists in the Areas of MCL, namely one at B.T.I.,
Lakhanpur, 1 No. at Orient Club and 1 No. at Jagannath. Work for the construction of a fourth
swimming pool at MCL Headquarter will be awarded shortly.
25. STADIUM Since Inception 5 Nos. M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

5 Nos. of stadia were built under various welfare measure schemes and Peripheral Development Scheme
by MCL at Sambalpur, Angul, Talcher, Balanda, and Brajrajnagar.
 26. AC in HEMM M.C.L. - HALLMARKS

All fields of MCL reel under extreme heat during summers. To provide relief to the
Operators all HEMMs are being provided with AC cabins. This will increase the
productivity of the operators also.
 M.C.L. - HALLMARKS
27. Man-riding in all UG Mines

Man-riding system has been proposed in all UG mines & approval for 3 nos of man-riding have already
been obtained from MCL Board. Proposal for another 2 nos of man-riding are under process.