Coal news and updates

WCL CMD D. C. Garg passes away

June 18: The Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL), D. C. Garg, passed away on June 17 in Hyderabad following a cardiac arrest.

Garg had been to Hyderabad on June 11 to attend a board meeting of The Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL), where he was hospitalized due to cardiac arrest. Even as Garg was revived, he slipped into coma till he succumbed on June 17.

Garg, who had joined Coal India Limited (CIL), the parent company of WCL as a geologist, had taken over as Nagpur-based PSU's CMD in May 2007 and was due for retirement in November.

His career went through a turbulent phase during the tenure in WCL as the company's production too had touched a low. However, Garg, known as a tough taskmaster, could maintain a balance, an official of the company said.

It was during his tenure in 2009, WCL booked the highest profit of Rs 1,000 crore with production touching 45.74 million tons.

Apart from holding charge as WCL's CMD, Garg was also a director in the board of Singareni Collieries Company Limited and a permanent invitee on CIL board.

“For the time being, till a final decision is taken by the Ministry of Coal, the senior most director of WCL Om Prakash, who is officiating as Director (Technical), is likely to officiate as CMD of WCL,” an official said.