Meet on mining
Arunachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Chowna Mein addressing a meeting at his office at Itanagar on Tuesday evening. Image credit - Northeast Now

Arunachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Chowna Mein on Tuesday called upon the departmental officers of the geology and mining, and Arunachal Pradesh Mineral Development and Trading Corporation Limited to explore the mine and mineral deposits in the state.

Addressing a meeting at his office at Itanagar on Tuesday evening, Mein said the state’s resources need to be tapped at any cost.

he informed that the state government has already allocated a sum of Rs 32 crore to the department of geology and mining for payment of additional levy to the ministry of coal.

The deputy CM said the allocation of the said amount was announced in his budget speech in the recently concluded budget session.

He further asked the officers to provide a prospective budget by specifying the potential areas of mines and mineral deposits in the State and assured to provide the required assistance to the department.

Earlier, geology and mining director T. Tallar informed the benefits that the state government will reap a benefit in the form of royalty from the Namchik-Namphuk, the lone coalfield in the state, in Changlang district if the project takes off.

Among others, finance secretary Y W Ringu and advisor to deputy CM Anupam Tangu were present in the meeting.

Damien Lepcha is Northeast Now Correspondent in Arunachal Pradesh. He can be reached at: [email protected]