NLC India Advances Sustainable Mine Restoration

16 Mar 2026 CW Team

At Neyveli reclaimed mine areas have been redeveloped as Mine-I and Mine-II eco parks featuring artificial lakes, boating, gardens, orchards and bird-watching zones, which attract diverse wildlife. The parks host around 107 species of migratory birds and the company signed an MoU with the Pondicherry Tourism Development Corporation and opened the eco-tourism facility to the public from 2 October 2025. These initiatives demonstrate ecological recovery and community engagement.

The Maru Udyan desert eco park at Barsingsar in Rajasthan illustrates integration of mining with restoration, where rehabilitation since 2016 and intensified bio-reclamation from 2019 have greened nearly 40 hectares and established a two-hectare eco-park with 21 species of trees. NLCIL has developed a mine water utilisation system with 88 water harvesting structures covering 191.458 hectares and supplies 55 mn litres per day to 40 surrounding villages. An agreement with the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board provides 42.51 mn litres per day to benefit zero point seven nine one mn people in six town panchayats and 625 villages.

The company is converting overburden into construction aggregates by recovering forty to sixty per cent sand and has commissioned pilot M-Sand plants producing zero point two six two mn m³ per annum and zero point six two five mn m³ per annum. Soil rehabilitation includes hydroponic cultivation, Israeli drip irrigation and livestock rearing to improve fertility, and ongoing plantation drives since 2020 have produced zero point six four five mn saplings. Amenities such as the Pothigai Herbal Park of one point two five acres with 38 medicinal species reflect land reuse.

NLC India Limited has reported progress in reclaiming mined landscapes across its lignite projects, pursuing responsible mining and environmental sustainability. As on 28 February 2026 the company reported a total mined-out area of 6,571 hectares of which 3,236 hectares have been physically reclaimed and 2,866 hectares biologically reclaimed, and plantation work has yielded three point three nine five million (mn) saplings. The reclaimed areas have been converted into green landscapes, water bodies and productive agricultural zones. At Neyveli reclaimed mine areas have been redeveloped as Mine-I and Mine-II eco parks featuring artificial lakes, boating, gardens, orchards and bird-watching zones, which attract diverse wildlife. The parks host around 107 species of migratory birds and the company signed an MoU with the Pondicherry Tourism Development Corporation and opened the eco-tourism facility to the public from 2 October 2025. These initiatives demonstrate ecological recovery and community engagement. The Maru Udyan desert eco park at Barsingsar in Rajasthan illustrates integration of mining with restoration, where rehabilitation since 2016 and intensified bio-reclamation from 2019 have greened nearly 40 hectares and established a two-hectare eco-park with 21 species of trees. NLCIL has developed a mine water utilisation system with 88 water harvesting structures covering 191.458 hectares and supplies 55 mn litres per day to 40 surrounding villages. An agreement with the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board provides 42.51 mn litres per day to benefit zero point seven nine one mn people in six town panchayats and 625 villages. The company is converting overburden into construction aggregates by recovering forty to sixty per cent sand and has commissioned pilot M-Sand plants producing zero point two six two mn m³ per annum and zero point six two five mn m³ per annum. Soil rehabilitation includes hydroponic cultivation, Israeli drip irrigation and livestock rearing to improve fertility, and ongoing plantation drives since 2020 have produced zero point six four five mn saplings. Amenities such as the Pothigai Herbal Park of one point two five acres with 38 medicinal species reflect land reuse.

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