Tuli, September 16: Parliamentary Secretary of Geology & Mining, Dr. Imtiwapang Aier on Friday said Mokokchung district stand on record as the highest revenue contributor for the last three consecutive years amongst the coal producing districts in Nagaland.
Addressing the inaugural programme of the designated coal depot in Tuli at 10th Mile, NH – 2 Tuli Railway Station here today, the chief guest said Nagaland coal deposits are found in Mon, Longleng, Mokokchung, Wokha, Tuensang, Kohima and Peren districts and presently coal is being extracted only in four districts namely Mon, Longleng, Mokokchung and Wokha. He also mentioned that Tuli designated coal depot is the first to be inaugurated out of the four designated depots already setup by the state government.Parliamentary Secretary said in-order to adopt scientific and systematic development of coal resources in the state and for optimum utilization, the State government has framed the Nagaland Coal Policy 2006 and the Nagaland Coal Mining Rules 2006 under the Nagaland (Ownership and Transfer of Land and its Resources) Act 1990.
The foresaid policy and rules has now undergone its first amendment in 2014 and the same is being enforced in the state which ‘aimed at mutual benefit’ for the coal miners, the state government and also the people, Dr. Imtiwapang said.
He, however, lamented that the owners of those resources do not have the finance and marketing capability to produce and sell our own product.
“The Naga coal miners and contractors have to incur huge losses due to haphazard mining and trading activities…the ‘dalal’ (middlemen) coming from outside exploit the market monopoly and get maximum profit,” Dr Imtiwapang asserted.
Dr. Imtiwapang expressed hope that the designated coal depot in Tuli will facilitate the local coal producers, landowners, entrepreneurs to sell their coal at reasonable prices without facing direct market fluctuation and do to away with market price monopoly.
Dr. Imtiwapang also disclosed that the Nagaland coal is in huge demand in neighboring countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh adding the State government is trying its level best to attract more investors both from outside Nagaland and aboard.
In this connection, Dr. Imtiwapang requested the village councils, landowners, local coal miners and stakeholders to extend full co-operation with the State government to boost coal sector in the State and to ensure that illegal coal mining are checked within their jurisdiction.
Parliamentary Secretary also added that State government will ensured the Tuli Rail station is activated for transportation of coal and other resources besides deploying security at the designated coal depots to assist the department for smooth functioning of the stockyard.
He also disclosed that the state government will be opening similar coal depots at Shingpang in Mon district, Shingtak in Longleng district and Tsutepela in Mokokchung district. He further disclosed that State government is contemplating to set up thermal power within Nagaland by utilising Nagaland coal.
The guest of honor and Parliamentary Secretary of Industry and Commerce, Amenba Yaden, urged the entrepreneurs and coal depot owners to be more sensitive toward local environment and followed the guidelines laid down by the Department of Geology & Mining and the Nagaland Pollution Control Board.
Short speeches were also delivered by Secretary of Geology and Mining, Imjung M Panger IAS, representatives from the Nagaland Emerald Enterprises, Wamaken village council chairman and Tuli Area Coal Miners’ Association.
The newly inaugurated Tuli coal stockyard license along with Watiyongpang gate has been outsourced and allocated to M/S Nagaland Emerald Enterprise. The depot is equipped with a ‘weigh bridge’ and abundant space for dumping of coal for transportation.
A host of dignitaries from the Directorate of Geology & Mining, leaders from the neighboring villages of Tuli area and others attended the programme.
