Building on its sustained efforts to promote responsible mine closure practices, the Ministry of Coal is set to release 'AAROH – Annual Report on Mine Closure' in New Delhi on 22^nd July 2026. For the first time since independence, 42 coal mines have been scientifically closed, in accordance with approved mine closure plans. The report presents the transformative journey of these closed mines, showcasing how scientific reclamation, ecological restoration, sustainable post-mining land utilisation, and community-centric interventions have enabled the productive reuse of former mining areas.

The event will be graced by Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal and Mines, as the Chief Guest. Shri Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, will attend as the Special Guest while Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, will be the Guest of Honour. Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Shri Sanoj Kumar Jha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Shri Sajeesh Kumar N., Coal Controller and other senior officials of the Ministry will also be present on the occasion.

Mine closure is a critical stage in the mining lifecycle, encompassing ecological restoration, land reclamation, and the productive repurposing of post-mining sites for community and economic benefit. Recognizing its importance, the Ministry of Coal has, over recent years, developed a series of frameworks, including the RECLAIM Framework for community engagement, L.I.V.E.S. Framework for sustainable mine closure & repurposing, and SUVIKALP (an interactive decision support tool) for assessing mine repurposing options, to guide scientific closure, stakeholder participation, and sustainable land-use planning across the coalfields.

Reflecting this evolving approach, the programme will showcase on-ground innovations in mine reclamation, ecological restoration, and community-oriented rehabilitation, with an accompanying exhibition featuring initiatives undertaken by Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries, NLC India Limited, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), NTPC, and private mining organisations. The inauguration of Coal NEER Plants set up by Coal India Limited through its subsidiaries, aimed at strengthening access to safe and sustainable drinking water in coal-bearing regions, will further reinforce this commitment toward community-focused development.

The occasion will also mark significant steps towards strengthening institutional partnerships and international cooperation to advance scientific mine closure and sustainable post-mining land use practices.

The Ministry of Coal will sign an Implementation Agreement with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to foster technical cooperation on ‘to-be closed coal mines’.  This collaboration aims to strengthen institutional capacity, facilitate knowledge sharing, and support the adoption of international best practices in scientific mine closure and post-mining development.

The event will also witness the signing of Tripartite Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) among Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), the Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority (JRDA), and Hindalco Industries Limited and Rajdhani Universal Fabrics Private Limited for establishing vocational training facilities under the Revised Jharia Master Plan.

Through these efforts, the Ministry of Coal reaffirms its continued commitment to integrating sustainability, innovation and community-centric development into mine closure planning. Through structured frameworks, digital tools and collaborative stakeholder platforms, the Ministry is paving the way for transforming mine closure into an opportunity for ecological restoration, economic diversification and long-term regional development.

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Shuhaib T