Context
The SUVIKALP Tool received the SKOCH Gold Award 2026 in the category Digital Operational Efficiency – Data Driven Decision Making for supporting data-based mine-repurposing decisions.
About SUVIKALP Tool
- Purpose: An in-house digital tool designed to identify and plan sustainable, post-closure land uses for reclaimed mine sites.
- Developer: Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO) under the Ministry of Coal.
- Assessment Mechanism: Evaluates and ranks mine repurposing projects using technical, environmental, social, and economic criteria.
- Implementation Support: Integrated with PRISM (Post-Mining Repurposing Implementation Strategy Model), which provides project concepts, case studies, sample Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), tender documents, and agency details to streamline execution.
Coal Controller Organisation (CCO)
- Establishment & Status: Established in 1916 (originally as the Coal Commissioner’s office during WWI); operates as a subordinate office under the Ministry of Coal.
- Headquarters & Field Reach: Main headquarters relocated to Delhi, supported by regional field offices in major coal belts (Dhanbad, Ranchi, Bilaspur, Nagpur, Sambalpur, Kothagudem, Kolkata).
- Coal Data & Statistics: Serves as the official primary collector of national coal metrics, publishing the Coal Directory of India and Provisional Coal Statistics.
- Quality & Grade Dispute Resolution: Oversees coal quality monitoring and grading, acting as the statutory appellate authority in coal grade disputes under Colliery Control Rules, 2004 (amended 2021).
- Mine Planning & Closure: Approves mining plans and monitors progressive and final mine-closure activities to ensure environmental compliance.
- Statutory & Market Oversight:
- Land Acquisition: Statutory hearing authority under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition & Development) Act, 1957.
- Financial Roles: Acts as Commissioner of Payments under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015, monitors captive blocks, and certifies coal gasification rebate quantities.
- Coal Exchange Regulator: Designated authority under Coal Exchange Rules, 2026 to register and regulate electronic coal exchanges, supervising price discovery and market conduct.
FAQs
Q1. Which organisation developed the SUVIKALP Tool?
Ans. The Coal Controller Organisation (CCO) under the Ministry of Coal.
Q2. What is the purpose of the SUVIKALP Tool?
Ans. It helps stakeholders identify suitable projects for repurposing mines through data-driven assessment.
Q3. What is PRISM?
Ans. Post-Mining Repurposing Implementation Strategy Model (PRISM) provides project concepts, case studies, sample Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), tender documents and details of relevant agencies.
