Bilaspur (thestates.news)| As per the order issued by the Ministry of Coal, Government of India, Shri Harish Duhan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), has been entrusted with the additional charge of Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Western Coalfields Limited (WCL).
The additional charge will be effective from 1 February 2026 for an initial period of three months or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
About Shri Harish Duhan, CMD, SECL : Shri Harish Duhan assumed charge as Chairman-cum-Managing Director of South Eastern Coalfields Limited on 27 March 2025. Under his leadership, SECL has achieved significant progress in key areas such as land acquisition, quality coal production, sustainable and environment-friendly mining practices, and women empowerment.
Guided by his vision, SECL became the first coal PSU in the country to adopt paste-fill technology in underground mines, marking a major milestone in safe and sustainable mining. Addressing long-standing land acquisition challenges, SECL has achieved possession of over 250 hectares of land since April 2025, providing a strong foundation for enhancing production capacity in its mega projects.
In the area of women empowerment and workplace inclusivity, SECL has set new benchmarks by commissioning Coal India’s first all-women-operated dispensary and an all-women Central Store Unit.
Shri Duhan brings with him over 34 years of rich and diversified experience in the coal mining sector. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering from Nagpur University and began his professional career in 1989 with Western Coalfields Limited. He is also a holder of a First Class Mine Manager’s Certificate and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management.
During his illustrious career, Shri Duhan has served as Director (Technical–Operations) at Central Coalfields Limited (CCL). He has also held key positions including Area General Manager at the Nigahi Project of Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) and General Manager (Corporate Project Planning), contributing significantly to large-scale project planning and execution.
He possesses extensive experience in the development and implementation of environment-friendly First Mile Connectivity projects, digitalisation initiatives, and solar energy projects, establishing him as a modern, sustainability-driven and future-ready leader in the coal sector.
