Telangana leads sustainable mine repurposing with green restoration project
Telangana has taken the lead in transforming defunct coal mines into sustainable green zones, following a national initiative to promote ecological restoration and community livelihoods. The Union Ministry of Coal and Mines on Thursday formalized its partnership with the Heartfulness Foundation to roll out restoration projects at four legacy mining sites, marking a major shift toward environmental rehabilitation and post-mining land-use planning in India.
The MoUs were signed at Kanha Shanti Vanam, the global headquarters of Heartfulness located on the outskirts of Hyderabad. Under this initiative, Telangana’s Singareni coal mine site has been chosen as a flagship location, with support from the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). Other sites identified include Dhanbad (Jharkhand), Damua (Madhya Pradesh), and Kachchh (Gujarat). The restoration plan will be carried out under the RECLAIM framework—a structured mine closure and repurposing model designed by the Ministry of Coal. The RECLAIM model focuses on community engagement and sustainability through a seven-step approach: Reach-out, Envision, Co-design, Localise, Act, Integrate, and Maintain.
The initiative aims to turn abandoned coal sites into green zones through the development of vegetative cover, mitigation of toxic gases, soil health improvement, and facilitation of alternate livelihoods for mining-dependent communities. The Heartfulness Foundation will provide the necessary ecological and technical expertise, in addition to manpower and planning support. Union Minister for Coal and Mines, speaking at the signing ceremony, underscored the government’s commitment to scientific mine closure. “We are committed to restoring the closed mine sites. It is time to give back to nature,” he said. “The government mandates sustainable mine closure practices that regenerate both economic and ecological value for local communities.”
The restoration of the Singareni site in Telangana is expected to serve as a scalable template for other regions. The area, once a high-production coal zone, now faces typical challenges of legacy mine land—soil degradation, groundwater contamination, and lost economic purpose. Through reforestation and ecological rehabilitation, the project seeks to reverse environmental decline while supporting a green economy transition. The Heartfulness Foundation, known for its global environmental initiatives and large-scale reforestation efforts, will oversee the transformation process. A key aspect will be the integration of local stakeholders—especially former mine workers and rural populations—into new income-generating activities such as agroforestry, nursery management, medicinal plant cultivation, and ecotourism.
This initiative reflects a broader policy shift toward Just Transition—a concept increasingly prioritized in India’s climate and energy discourse. With India’s coal sector undergoing gradual downsizing, the conversion of brownfield mine sites into productive and environmentally sound landscapes has become a national imperative.
The focus on Telangana is strategically significant. As a historically coal-rich state, Telangana has seen the lifecycle of several mines reach exhaustion. The Singareni Collieries, which were once central to the region’s energy production, are now positioned to become examples of ecological resilience and sustainable redevelopment. Experts believe this move could trigger a wave of green employment opportunities, especially in rural and peri-urban belts affected by mining-induced socio-economic imbalances. The integration of ecological restoration with local employment also aligns with the National Mineral Policy, which emphasizes community welfare during mine closures.
While the project offers long-term environmental and social dividends, successful implementation will depend on ground-level coordination between central agencies, state governments, and community bodies. Capacity building, sustained funding, and real-time monitoring of ecological impact will be critical for the success of the pilot sites. India currently has hundreds of non-operational mines with potential for repurposing. The outcomes from Telangana and the other selected locations may serve as a decision-making benchmark for future mine closure policies and investments in ecological recovery.
As India balances its coal dependency with sustainability goals, initiatives like this set the groundwork for achieving a low-carbon, inclusive, and nature-positive future. Telangana’s active participation marks a crucial step in reshaping India’s post-extraction economy and rethinking the way land is valued after its resource potential is exhausted.
