Arunachal Pradesh's first commercial coal mine starts operations tomorrow
What's the story
Arunachal Pradesh will inaugurate its first commercial coal mine at the Namchik-Namphuk coal block in Changlang district tomorrow. Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy will lead the ceremony by performing Bhoomi Poojan and officially handing over the mining lease. He will also flag off machinery for Coal Projects Private Limited (CPPL) to start operations at the site and plant 100 trees as part of a green initiative.
Block history
Namchik-Namphuk coal block's journey
The Namchik-Namphuk coal block, with reserves of 1.5 crore tons, was first allocated in 2003. However, it faced long delays and stoppages due to various operational challenges. In 2022, the block was revived through a transparent auction process that opened doors for private sector participation in Arunachal's mining sector. This is the start of Arunachal Pradesh's coal journey, marking its entry into the industry, as India is currently positioned as the world's second-largest coal producer.
Economic impact
Expected revenue generation and employment opportunities
The launch of commercial coal mining in AP is expected to generate over ₹100 crore annually as revenue for the state. It will also create employment opportunities for the state's youth. The initiative is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of EAST (Empower, Act, Strengthen, Transform), a guiding philosophy for every initiative in the Northeast region.
Resource management
Ending illegal mining and resource wastage
The launch of commercial coal mining in AP will put an end to illegal mining, exploitation, and wastage of state resources. It is expected to bring transparency and accountability in managing the state's natural resources. The government has also announced plans to auction two critical mineral blocks in AP and five such blocks in Assam, highlighting the region's growing role in India's technological and strategic mineral landscape.