Why in the News?
Arunachal Pradesh has launched its first commercial coal mine at the Namchik-Namphuk coal block in Changlang district.
About the Namchik–Namphuk Coal Mine:
- Overview: Located in Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh, is the state’s first commercial coal mine, situated near the Indo-Myanmar border.
- Reserves & Quality: Holds ~15 million tonnes of lignite/sub-bituminous coal, primarily for thermal power and industrial use.
- Operator & Allocation: Operated by Coal Pulz Private Limited (CPPL), allotted through a transparent auction in 2022, project first allocated in 2003 but stalled due to environmental and administrative delays.
- Production & Revenue: Initial capacity of 0.2 million tonnes per annum, expected to generate ₹100 crore annually for the state government.
- National Context: Marks Arunachal Pradesh’s entry into India’s coal-producing map as the country crosses 1 billion tonnes output (FY 2024-25).
- Policy Alignment: Supports the EAST Vision (Empower, Act, Strengthen, Transform) for North-Eastern development.
Significance:
- Legal Mining: Ends decades of illegal mining through regulated, community-driven extraction.
- Sustainable Development: Part of Mission Green Coal Regions, targeting 73,000 ha of land reclamation by 2030, embedding ecological restoration into mining.
| [UPSC 2008] In which one of the following states are Namchik-Namphuk Coalfields located?
Options: (a) Arunachal Pradesh* (b) Meghalaya (c) Manipur (d) Mizoram |
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