Government grants RP, PLs for mineral exploration: Mossang

From our correspondent

Itagar, March 13: The Aruchal Pradesh Government has granted one Reconissance Permit (RP) and 23 Prospecting Licenses (PL) to various companies for exploration of mineral resources in the State as per the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act 1957, State Geology and Mining Minister Kamlung Mossang said on Tuesday.

Responding to a question that was raised in the House by senior BJP member Wanglin Lowangdong during Question Hour, the minister said that the State Government had allocated 40 lakH under the State Annual Development Agenda (SADA) for detail exploration of Kalaktang Quartzite and Rupa Dolomite block in West Kameng district as per United tion Framework Classification (UNFC) during 2017-18.

He said the proposal for detailed exploration of mchik Eastern part and western part of mchik-mphuk coalfield in Changlang district was considered by the Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) under the Union Mines Ministry.

“The Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd (CMPDIL) has floated e-tender for exploration of the areas in November last year. Moreover, exploration of coal occurrences in Changlang, Tirap and West Kameng districts was taken up in the 57th meeting of the CGPB and officers from Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL) will be visiting the proposed areas to check the viability of the blocks,” he added.

Stating that the geology and mining department contributed sizeable revenue to the State’s exchequer, Mossang stressed the need for systematic and scientific exploration of oil and coal for the sustaible development and revenue generation. He said the power of regulation and the responsibility for the development of oilfields and mineral oil resources lies exclusively within the domain of the Centre.

Responding to a supplementary, Mossang informed the House that the State Government, during 2002 to March 5 this year, collected revenue of Rs 336.88 crore from minor minerals, while an amount of Rs 22.38 crore were collected from coal during 2001-02 to 2014-15 and Rs 601.57 crore from crude oil between 1984 to December 31 last year.