Dispur targets 10 lakh MT coal production yearly from state coal reserves

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: To augment revenue collection from the coal sector, the State Government has set the target of producing 10 lakh tonnes of coal yearly from the state coal reserves.

The revenue collection from coal in the state was a meagre Rs 0.94 crore in fiscal 2021-22 against Rs 15.01 crore in fiscal 2020-21. Coal exploration in Assam was minimal in the last fiscal.

According to sources in the Directorate of Geology and Mining, following proactive initiatives taken by the Central Government and the State Government, the North Eastern Coalfield (NEC), Coal India Ltd (CIL) resumed mining operations at Tikak Colliery at Margherita on March 26, 2022. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Coal and Mines Minister Prahlad Joshi were present.

North Eastern Coalfield is mining coal in two opencast projects – Tikak and Tikak Extension. It expects an annual yield of four lakh MT of coal from these two projects.

North Eastern Coalfield will also start coal production from Tirap Coal Field in this fiscal. With it, the Directorate of Geology and Mining expects to produce 10 lakh MT or more coal production yearly.

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