NEYVELI, February 24, 2026: G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal & Mines, undertook a two-day official visit to Neyveli on February 22–23, 2026, to review projects of NLC India Limited (NLCIL) and inaugurate the first-ever National Workshop on Mine Closure.
The Minister was received by Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, CMD, NLCIL, along with functional directors, and was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour by CISF personnel. During the visit, he interacted with trade unions, associations and key stakeholders before reviewing NLCIL’s operational performance and long-term growth strategy with senior management.
At the mining site, the Minister engaged directly with the workforce and participated in a tree plantation drive, underscoring the government’s emphasis on sustainable mining and environmental stewardship. He also reviewed land reclamation initiatives, including paddy cultivation on restored mined land, biodiversity conservation efforts at an ecologically significant bat habitat, and the inauguration of a Butterfly Park within the reclamation zone.
The Minister launched several sustainability-linked initiatives, including the Overburden-to-Sand Project aimed at converting mining by-products into value-added resources. He also flagged off an eco-tourism bus programme for school students to promote environmental awareness and responsible mining practices.
A key highlight of the visit was the inauguration of the two-day National Workshop titled “Moving Beyond Extraction – Mine Closure & Repurposing,” positioning sustainable mine closure and scientific land repurposing as central pillars of India’s evolving mining framework. The workshop brought together senior policymakers, public sector leaders and over 200 delegates to deliberate on ecological restoration and community-centric post-mining land use strategies.
In his keynote address, the Minister aligned the initiative with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, emphasising that while mining remains critical for energy security and infrastructure development, environmental restoration must define its long-term legacy. He called for measurable, time-bound mine.
