Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) has introduced drone technology in coal mines by launching a web-based portal VIHANGAM along with a drone and ground control system.
The portal allows an authorised person to access real time drone video from the mine through a dedicated 40 mbps internet lease line near the mines. There is a control station that flies the drone and the system can be operated through the portal from anywhere. This pilot project is at present operational at Bhubaneswari and Lingraj opencast mines of Talcher Coalfields. MCL is making use of drone technology for environmental monitoring, volume measurement and photogrammetric mapping of mine for digitalisation of mining process. Besides this, MCL has also stepped up the use of latest equipment to further enhance safety standards. It has recently introduced robotic nozzle water sprayer in its coal stockyard. The equipment can spray water up to 70 meters in the form of mist. The nozzle also termed as swivel nozzle, is installed on a water tanker of 28 kl capacity.