Arunachal's First Commercial Coal Mine At Namchik-Namphuk Block To Be Launched On Monday

Arunachal Pradesh will enter India’s coal map on Monday (6 October), with the launch of its first-ever commercial coal mine at the Namchik-Namphuk coal block in Changlang district.

Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy will lead the inauguration by performing the Bhoomi Poojan, handing over the mining lease, flagging off the machinery of Coal Projects Private Limited (CPPL) to the site, and participating in a 100-tree plantation drive as part of the ministry’s green initiative.

The Namchik-Namphuk block, which holds reserves of 1.5 crore tonnes, was initially allotted in 2003 but faced years of delays and operational stoppages, according to a Coal Ministry statement.

It was revived through a transparent auction process in 2022, opening the doors for private participation in Arunachal’s mining sector.

According to the ministry, this initiative carries forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of EAST – Empower, Act, Strengthen, Transform – a guiding philosophy for every initiative in the Northeast.

The launch also marks an end to illegal mining and resource exploitation, establishing transparency and accountability in the state’s resource management.

The government has also announced the auction of two critical mineral blocks in Arunachal Pradesh and five in Assam, underlining the region’s growing role in India’s technological and strategic mineral landscape.

Officials have been directed to ensure speedy operationalisation of the mines, aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat goal of “local resources, local jobs, and local strength.”

The Ministry reaffirmed that mining in the Northeast will have no compromise with ecology, adding that the region, known for its green valleys, rivers and strong communities, will be developed as a global model for sustainable mining.

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