From Coal to Culture: Archaeological Investigations in “India’s Energy Capital” Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh and Sustainable Development in the Region

Singrauli, formed in 2008 by splitting from Sidhi and part of Sonbhadra district in Madhya Pradesh, earned the name “Urjanagari” or “the city of energy” due to extensive mineral use and numerous power plants. However, coal dependence and corporate control brought livelihoods for some but displaced many, straining the environment and population (Javed and Khan 2012). Singrauli's archaeology starts from the Lower Paleolithic period, and in the early historic period, it served as a trade crossroads connecting western and southern India with Magadha. During the Kalachuri era, it saw the growth of hidden urban centers, religious sites, and trading hubs. These valuable resources demand exploration to support sustainable development, with ancient relics as coal and industrial expansion alternatives. This research aligns with countering corporate interests in Singrauli's coal-rich landscape through the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) and Government of India. The paper discusses archaeological findings, like stupas, inscriptions, and monasteries in Singrauli, alongside the discovery of an urban center with unique architectural and sculptural remnants in Nagwa, exploring how these findings can serve as unconventional resources for sustainable development goals and propose alternative resources in its archaeological heritage to coal-based unsustainability.