Nagpur, 12th February 2026: The Department of Civil Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, successfully organized a high-level Conclave on “Mine Overburden Waste: An Alternate Aggregate Resource” on Thursday at the department premises. The event aimed to bridge the gap between academia, government regulatory bodies, PSUs, and private industries to promote the sustainable utilization of mining waste in the construction sector.
The inaugural session was presided over by Prof. (Dr.) P. L. Patel, Director, VNIT Nagpur (Chief Patron). Prof. T. N. Singh, Director, IIT Patna, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while Dr. Atul Daod, District Mining Officer (DMO), Nagpur, was the Guest of Honour. The ceremony commenced with a formal Conclave Briefing by Dr. Rahul Ralegaonkar, who outlined the technical objectives and the urgency of finding sustainable alternatives to natural aggregates. The proceedings were gracefully conducted by Dr. Vaidehi Dakwale, who served as the Master of Ceremony.
In his presidential address, Prof. P. L. Patel emphasized the role of premier technical institutions like VNIT in developing environmentally responsible solutions for the infrastructure sector. Chief Guest Prof. T. N. Singh underlined the technical feasibility and national importance of adopting mine overburden as a resource, while Dr. Atul Daod assured full regulatory support from the District Mining Office to facilitate this transition. The conclave featured intensive panel discussions and invited talks from industry veterans including Mr. BRV Susheel Kumar, Prof. B.B. Das, and Dr. Md. Najar. Expert insights were also shared by panel members, Dr. Ramesh Bhatwadekar, Dr. K.C. Tayde, Mr. Sanjay Rawal, Dr. Y.B. Katpatal, Dr. Suresh Kumar, and Mr. Shrirang Bhoot.
A landmark outcome of the event was the proposal to form a National Forum for Alternative Aggregates to facilitate policy advocacy, standardization, and collaborative research. The event witnessed participation from approximately 100 delegates representing over 30 organizations, including government departments, private, PSU’s and Research Labs.
The inaugural session concluded with a Vote of Thanks proposed by Dr. Mangesh Madurwar, who expressed gratitude to the dignitaries. The day concluded with a technology demonstration and a brainstorming session on strengthening industry-institute partnerships