1,471 mn tonnes of coal estimated in NE

New Delhi : A study by the Geological Survey of India has so far estimated 1,471 million tonnes of coal in the north-east region of the country.

As per the latest Inventory of Geological Resources of Coal in India by the country?s Geological Survey, 388 million tonnes are in Assam and 576 million tonnes of the natural resource in Meghalaya.

In Assam three opencast mines — Tirap OC, Tikak OC and Ledo OC — are in operation under North Eastern Coalfields Limited (NEC) of Coal India Limited (CIL) a Ministry of Coal statement said on Tuesday.

Five more new opencast mines — Lekhapani OC, Tikak Extension OC, Tipong OC, PQ Block OC and Lachitkhani OC — are proposed to be opened.

In Meghalaya, coal is being produced by the local people as per the extant customary and tribal land rights. The only lease held by NEC, CIL is Simsang, which had expired in 2008 and its renewal is yet to be received from the State of Meghalaya.

In the absence of renewal of lease in the state of Meghalaya, at present no more mines has been planned to be opened by NEC, CIL, the statement added.