Students of DAV Gandhinagar welcome Magsaysay Award winner Rajendra Singh at the CCL headquarters. He laid the foundation stone for a water recharge pit. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, April 17: Magsaysay Award winner Rajendra Singh, known for rejuvenating the rivers of Alwar in Rajasthan, today suggested Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) to produce fishes.

Singh had come to the CCL headquarters, Darbhanga House, in the city, to lay the foundation stone of a water recharge pit and address a seminar on Water Conservation, Scarcity and its Remedy. CCL chairman-cum-managing director R.P. Ritolia and director (personnel), T.K. Chand, were present on the occasion with other senior officials.

“CCL has several abundant opencast mines full of water. The water would be used for setting up fisheries that might help contribute well to CCL’s economy. Local youths can be engaged to set up fishing co-operatives,” said Singh.

He also suggested that the coal company must honour the students and teachers contributing towards conserving water, harvesting rain water and recharging of underground water in schools.

“CCL is associated with many schools. If it promotes the recharge practice with the help of school teachers and students, it would revolutionise the field of water conservation,” Singh added.

He was of the opinion that CCL civil engineers and geo hydro physicists should contribute towards reviving rivers passing through CCL areas.

“CCL civil engineers and geo hydro physicists should work for the construction of the check dam in fractured zones to help revive river streams,” he added.

While suggesting CCL to produce fishes, Singh asked the government to formulate a proper policy to ensure availability of water.

Reacting to the suggestion, executive director (underground water) of water resources department S.L.S. Jageshwar, who was present on the occasion, said such policy has already been formulated.

Singh expressed concern over the new companies expected to come to the state.

“New companies are coming in the state for their self-interest. They do not have any plan to co-exist with the environment of the state,” he said.

CCL is a subsidiary of Coal India Limited with 64 mines, including open cast and underground mines, under the company, which are divided into 11 zones.

Ensuring proper use of the water that comes out during mining has always been a challenging job for the company. With Singh’s help, sources said the company took a step in the direction of water management.