ITANAGAR, Feb 1 � More than two years since the Union Coal Ministry had suspended mining at Namchik-Namphuk coal block in Changlang district of the State, the Arunachal Pradesh Government is eagerly awaiting the Union Government to withdraw the suspension order, enabling resumption of mining.
Replying to a supplementary query from BJP member Japu Deru in the Assembly on Friday, Geology and Mining Minister Kamlung Mossang informed that the State Government has been vigorously pursuing with the Centre to revoke the suspension order and is awaiting the response.
The Coal Ministry had suspended the mining operations at the block in May 2012 following reports of involvement of insurgent groups in illegal coal mining.
The coal block was awarded to the National Mining Company Ltd, Tinsukia through an open tender in 2007 with the provision of extracting two lakh metric tonnes of coal annually.
So far, 10,73,000 MT of coal has been extracted from the block from 2007 to 2012, and approximately Rs 18 crore revenue has come to the State exchequer, Mossang told the House.
Following the reports of involvement of insurgent groups in illegal mining, the Minister informed, the State Government had conducted an inquiry which found no involvement of any insurgent group as alleged.
