**Hyderabad:** Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy emphasized that India should become self-reliant in the coal sector instead of relying on imports. He called for increased domestic production to meet the country’s needs.
On Friday, the Union Minister visited the central office of Coal India Limited (CIL) in Kolkata. He addressed a meeting with employees and senior officials, acknowledging CIL’s crucial role in advancing India’s coal sector.
Kishan Reddy praised the efforts of CIL but urged the staff to work even harder to achieve the goals set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stressed the importance of adopting modern technology and paying special attention to environmental protection while identifying new coal blocks for domestic needs.
Later, the Union Minister attended a review meeting at Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), the only company in India focused on copper exploration. He encouraged the company to increase production to satisfy domestic demands.
During another review meeting at the Geological Survey of India (GSI) office, Kishan Reddy reviewed the organization’s progress and urged them to set new goals.
He also inaugurated the National Landslide Forecasting Centre (NLFC) established by GSI. He noted that landslides frequently occur in hilly areas of the country and that NLFC aims to predict these incidents in advance to minimize their impact.
The NLFC’s operations have already been tested in several states with positive results. Kishan Reddy advised officers to continue using modern technology for future advancements.
After his engagements in Kolkata, the Union Minister left for Hyderabad. On Saturday, he is scheduled to inaugurate the Critical Mineral Hackathon and Road Show in the city.
