The Indian National Committee of the World Mining Congress (INC-WMC) successfully concluded its International Conference on ‘Sustainable and Responsible Mining through Best Mine Closure Practices’ in Hyderabad, marking a significant step forward in India’s commitment to environmentally responsible mining. The conference brought together a diverse assembly of policymakers, environmental experts, industry leaders, academics, and stakeholders from India and abroad to chart a collaborative path toward sustainable mine closure practices.
Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy, serving as Patron of INC-WMC, addressed the gathering and reinforced the government’s steadfast commitment to developing a greener, safer future for India’s mining sector. His remarks aligned with the broader national vision of sustainability, innovation, and safety in resource extraction and post-mining land rehabilitation.
Key figures including Secretary of the Ministry of Mines V. L. Kantha Rao (Co-Chairperson, INC-WMC), Chairman of Coal India P. M. Prasad (Member Secretary, INC-WMC), and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Coal Rupinder Brar (Chairperson, Executive Committee, INC-WMC) played instrumental roles in guiding discussions. Brar inaugurated the thematic proceedings and maintained active engagement throughout the sessions.
The event provided a vibrant platform for the exchange of ideas through presentations by national and international experts, who shared pioneering approaches to mine closure, land reclamation, and environmental restoration. Delegates deliberated on the urgent need for integrated planning and the implementation of adaptive frameworks for sustainable post-mining land use.
Major highlights of the conference included the release of several key initiatives: the Mission Green booklet; Vision Documents on Copper and Aluminium; the RECLAIM Framework, designed to drive responsible mine closure protocols; the Exploration Module of the Single Window Clearance System (SWCS); and the announcement of the 24th Neyveli Book Fair. These tools and publications are expected to contribute significantly to policy formulation, industry benchmarks, and environmental governance in the mining sector.
The conference saw enthusiastic participation from India’s premier mining and industrial organisations. Attendees included representatives from Coal India, NLC India, SCCL, MCL, NCL, SECL, Hindalco, NMDC, NTPC Mining, Tata Steel, Reliance Industries, Adani, GMDC, APMDC, Jindal Power, JSW Group, BCCL, CMPDI, NALCO, CCL, WCL, ECL, DVC, and Hindustan Copper, among others. This robust representation underscored a strong industry-wide alignment with the goals of sustainability and responsible resource stewardship.
INC-WMC expressed deep appreciation to all contributors, including technical experts, academia, international speakers, media representatives, industry partners, and the dedicated organising team, whose commitment ensured the conference’s success.
The event reaffirmed INC-WMC’s core mission to foster global dialogue, enable policy innovation, and advance collaborative action for a more sustainable, inclusive, and safety-driven mining ecosystem in India and beyond.
