GUWAHATI:
Coal mining operations at North Eastern Coalfields (NEC), a unit of the world’s largest coal company Coal India Limited (CIL), resumed at Tikak colliery, on March 26.
“The resumption of the mining operations is a very important step towards the development of the region. The coal quality of NEC is superior, and it is in high demand among several of India’s domestic industries,” said Union Minister for Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi, inaugurating the operations.
Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the state government is committed to maintaining a balance between development and the environment. “While operationalising Tikak Colliery, we have ensured that mining activities continue in sync with nature. Our government has extended all co-operation to Coal India Ltd., in resolving environmental and all other issues that stalled the functioning of the North Eastern Coalfields,” he said.
Mining operations at the NEC were halted owing to the non-availability of land for overburden dump and lack of certain clearances. The coalfields will also start producing coal from its Tirap OCP from the upcoming 2022-23 fiscal and has planned to produce 10 lakh tonnes of coal from 2023 to 24 fiscal.
“Increased production in the mines will generate more revenues for the state government, more employment for the people and also support small business activities while catering to the energy demand,” Joshi said.
Union Minister of State for petroleum and natural gas Rameswar Teli also spoke on the occasion.
While chairman CIL Pramod Agrawal delivered the welcome address, the programme was also attended by Assam minister of mines and minerals, Jogen Mohan and Margherita MLA Bhaskar Sarma among others.
Coal India accounts for over 80 per cent of India’s coal production. The company has produced 606.06 million tonnes of coal in the current fiscal till March 25, 2022.
The company’s coal production is up by 5 per cent, relative to the same period of the last fiscal. The company’s coal offtake till date is 649.65 million tonnes, up by 15 per cent in comparison to the same period of the last fiscal. This is also the record coal offtake by the company in any financial year.