Suparjya swain 
NLC India Limited (NLCIL) celebrated the nation’s 79th Independence Day with grandeur and patriotic fervour at Neyveli on Friday. The celebrations were led by Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Shri Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, who reiterated the company’s commitment to playing a pivotal role in addressing the challenges of the evolving global energy landscape.
The day began with Shri Motupalli garlanding the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the Township Administration Office in the presence of Functional Directors, Chief Vigilance Officer and senior officials of the company. Later, at Bharathi Stadium, he hoisted the National Flag and inspected a ceremonial parade by 18 platoons comprising CISF, Tamil Nadu Home Guards, NCC, NSS, NLCIL Security and Fire Services, and students of Neyveli schools.
In his Independence Day address, Shri Motupalli paid rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and freedom fighters, recalling their sacrifices for the nation’s independence. He highlighted NLCIL’s growth trajectory, particularly over the last three years, with strategic diversification into commercial mining, critical minerals, renewable energy, and eco-friendly initiatives such as producing M-sand from mine overburden and installing solar plants on reclaimed mined-out lands.
With the commissioning of Unit 1 (660 MW) of the Ghatampur Thermal Power Project in Uttar Pradesh, NLCIL has joined the elite league of supercritical thermal plant operators, he noted. He also emphasized the company’s ambitious “Vision 2030,” which aims to achieve 10 GW thermal capacity, 100 MTPA lignite mining, and 10.1 GW renewable energy capacity.
Financial results for Q1 of FY 2025-26 underscored the company’s momentum: lignite excavation of 38.81 lakh tonnes, coal production of 37.88 lakh tonnes from Talabira mines, and a record power generation of 6,609.40 million units. Profit After Tax surged 48.09% compared to the same period last year.
Shri Motupalli also expressed pride in the Government of India’s trust, reflected in granting NLCIL an investment exemption of ₹7,000 crore. The company has laid out an investment plan of ₹1.25 lakh crore to triple its power capacity to 20 GW by 2030.
He highlighted ongoing initiatives in green hydrogen, battery storage, and integration of renewable and thermal power, as well as mining critical minerals to support Aatmanirbhar Bharat. “When the story of India in the 21st century is written, NLCIL’s name will be inscribed in golden letters,” he declared.
The CMD also extended gratitude to Union Coal & Mines Minister Shri M. Kishan Reddy, Minister of State Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, the Coal Ministry, and state governments for their support in NLCIL’s expansion projects.
On the social front, Shri Motupalli noted that NLCIL had spent ₹48 crore on CSR activities in 2024-25, benefiting over 8 lakh people. Students of Neyveli were lauded for their academic achievements, and differently-abled persons received retrofitted scooters as part of the company’s welfare measures.
The celebrations also honoured the senior-most employee, Shri M. Ravichandran of Mine-I, and his spouse. Awards were presented to employees, CSR teams, and sports achievers. Cultural programmes by students, including performances on patriotism, environmental awareness, and drug abuse prevention, along with a CISF unarmed combat demonstration, drew appreciation from the large gathering.
As a goodwill gesture, CMD Shri Motupalli announced a prize amount of ₹24.08 lakh for 4,014 school students who participated in the parade and cultural programmes. Members of the Neyveli Ladies Club marked the occasion by distributing fruits to in-patients of the NLCIL General Hospital.
Senior officers, employees, trade unions, associations, and Neyveli residents witnessed the celebrations, making it a memorable Independence Day for the township.
