CCO’s SUVIKALP Initiative Wins SKOCH Gold Award 2026 for Sustainable Mine Repurposing

CNB WORLD TIMES

The digital tool helps identify suitable projects for closed coal mines, while supporting environmental restoration, livelihood generation and sustainable regional development.

The Coal Controller Organisation (CCO), under the Ministry of Coal, is taking important steps to promote scientific mine closure and the sustainable reuse of land after mining activities end. Its SUVIKALP initiative has received national recognition by winning the SKOCH Gold Award 2026 in the category “Digital Operational Efficiency – Data Driven Decision Making.” The award was presented on 26 September 2026.

SUVIKALP Supports Data-Driven Mine Repurposing

CCO has developed SUVIKALP, an in-house Mine Repurposing Tool, to help stakeholders identify suitable projects for the sustainable use of closed coal mines.

The tool follows a structured, data-driven approach to evaluate and rank potential projects. It considers several technical, environmental, social and economic factors to help users make informed decisions about the future use of post-mining land.

PRISM Helps Turn Project Ideas into Action

After identifying a suitable project through SUVIKALP, users can explore implementation options through PRISM (Post-Mining Repurposing Implementation Strategy Model).

PRISM provides practical resources to support project planning and implementation. These include project concepts, implementation strategies, case studies, sample Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), tender documents and information about agencies working in related sectors.

Together, SUVIKALP and PRISM aim to make the process of selecting and implementing mine repurposing projects more systematic and practical.

SUVIKALP Samvaad Promotes Knowledge Sharing

CCO has also launched the SUVIKALP Samvaad Webinar Series to strengthen knowledge-sharing and capacity-building on mine closure and sustainable repurposing.

The national webinar series brought together coal companies, government officials, technical experts, academic institutions and other stakeholders. Participants shared practical solutions, innovative models and best practices for the productive use of post-mining land.

A total of 12 thematic webinars were conducted under the series. The discussions covered several important areas, including:

·         RECLAIM and L.I.V.E.S. frameworks.

·         The SUVIKALP Mine Repurposing Tool.

·         Establishment of Project Management Units (PMUs).

·         Community engagement and development.

·         Tourism and destination development.

·         Livelihood generation and employment opportunities.

·         Financing mechanisms for mine repurposing projects.

·         Innovative uses of abandoned mine voids.

·         National and international experiences in mine transition.

Focus on Environmental Restoration and Local Development

The webinar series has helped coal companies better understand the different aspects of mine closure. The focus is moving beyond regulatory compliance towards environmental restoration, livelihood generation, community development and economic diversification.

Expert-led discussions and knowledge exchange have also provided practical insights and scalable approaches for planning and implementing sustainable mine repurposing projects.

Supporting Sustainable Development in Coal Mining Regions

The SUVIKALP initiative, PRISM model and SUVIKALP Samvaad Webinar Series support the Ministry of Coal’s vision of transforming closed coal mines into productive assets.

These initiatives aim to encourage the effective reuse of post-mining land, create livelihood opportunities, support local communities and promote sustainable regional development. By combining digital decision-making tools with practical guidance and stakeholder participation, CCO is working towards a more sustainable future for coal mining regions.