Vidarbha to become mining and steel hub, says Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday that mining activity underway in Vidarbha has the potential to become a key engine of India's economic growth. He said this work could make a major contribution to the "Viksit Bharat 2047" vision. A new ecosystem is taking shape in the mining sector in Gadchiroli, he said, from which the country's first "clean green steel revolution" is beginning.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the inaugural session of the 36th National Convention of Mining Engineers, a two-day event organised by the Nagpur Local Centre of The Institution of Engineers (India), and a national seminar on "Mining for Viksit Bharat 2047". He also inaugurated an exhibition showcasing new research in the mining sector.

Citing Vidarbha's rich mineral wealth, including iron ore deposits in Gadchiroli, Fadnavis said the region is set to see investment of nearly Rs 5 lakh crore and steel production capacity of nearly 50 MTPA. Of eight coal gasification projects proposed under a new national mission, four have been allotted to Vidarbha.

Fadnavis said a new industrial ecosystem could also emerge in Chandrapur, Bhandara, Nagpur, Gondia and Yavatmal districts, alongside Gadchiroli. Green steel, clean technology and improved logistics connectivity would create large-scale employment and economic opportunities in the region, he said.

In his opening address, organising committee chairman Dr Sandeep Shirkhedkar highlighted the key challenges facing the mining sector. He said there was a need for detailed discussion on critical minerals, modern technology and the mine closure process. He also underlined the need to build a strong ecosystem for extracting and using critical minerals, along with training centres, arbitration facilities and testing labs.

The Institution of Engineers has a network of more than 4,000 mining engineers across the country, including nearly 300 in Nagpur. Dr Shirkhedkar said the institution would fully support the Maharashtra government and Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) in mining development work. He also gave details of the convention's keynote addresses, technical presentations and an exhibition with 25 stalls.

Convention convenor Dr Anupam Kher said "Mining for Viksit Bharat 2047" was not just the theme of the convention but a national inspiration. He said there was a need to balance technology, sustainability and safety while meeting the growing demand for critical minerals such as lithium and graphite, alongside coal, iron ore and limestone.

Suresh Chandra Suman, chairman of the Mining Division Board, said minerals are the foundation of modern industry, infrastructure and India's overall growth. He said AI, automation, drones, sensors and real-time monitoring would make mining more efficient, safer and more sustainable. Prioritising worker safety over production targets, Suman called mineral safety an important pillar for a developed India.

Dr Hemant Sharad Pande, CMD of Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), said the convention was organised with the aim of making Nagpur the country's "mining capital". He said WCL has identified 18 critical minerals and rare earth elements across 12 mines and is moving ahead with extracting and refining critical minerals besides coal.

Pande said there was a need to transform Vidarbha from a mineral-rich region into a higher-value, higher-income resource centre. He cited initiatives such as the proposed coal gasification hub at Majri under "Make in India", the PLI scheme, "Startup India" and "Skill India". He said WCL was also focusing on water conservation, environmental sustainability and eco-tourism.