Kohima | May 1, 2017 Despite facing hurdles and hardships due to unfavourable work conditions as well as inadequate logistic support, the department of Geology and Mining has been making sincere efforts to evaluate the mineral resources of the state. Accordingly, it has discovered and proved the minerals in order of their economic importance as petroleum and natural gas, nickel-cobalt-chromium, limestone, marble, coal, clay, slate, decorative and dimension stones, building materials and ground water resources.
The department in its annual administrative reports 2016-17 has presented that at present coals are being produced from four districts of the state namely: Wokha, Mokokchung, Longleng and Mon.
Under the Coal Policy, the department has constricted one Field Rest House at Shetap under Longleng district and two field camps at Sanis and Longtsiri Wokha district, Tsutapela and Saring under Mokokchung district. A Coal Stockyard which was set up at Tuli is said to be fully functional now.
The department has also set up four designated coal deposit at Singphan, Mon district; Shetap under Longleng district; Tuli and Changki-Mariani road under Mokokchung district. During the period 2016-17, the revenue generated from coal sector was Rs 1,85,95,700/- (One crore eighty five lakh ninety thousand and seven hundred) only.
Under the Coal Policy implementation, the department is said to be issuing Coal Prospecting License (CPL), Coal Mining License (CML) and Small Pocket Deposit License (SPDL) to individuals and private parties.
And out of the 27 Coal Mining Lease and 12 Small Pocket Deposit License issued by the department, only 12 CML and 3 SDPL licenses are said to be functional.
Petroleum and Natural development
Oil exploration carried out by various agencies in the state has established a prognosticated reserve of Petroleum & Natural Gas to 600 million tonnes in northwest along Nagaland-Assam border.
In the recent past, the state government has awarded three oil zones in Nagaland to two oil companies M/s Metropolitan Oil and Natural Gas Pvt Ltd and M/s Assam Oil Company India Ltd for oil exploration. However, it said due to some legal hurdles the project has been stalled.
The department has constructed three field rest houses for oil exploration and exploitation at Changki, Changpang and New Peren HQ, whereby establishment of administrative building at Peren is completed and construction works at Changki and Changpang are under construction.
The department mentioned that, if the Nagaland and Natural Gas Rules 2012 is effectively implemented, it can generate 500 to 600 lakh annual revenue to the state exchequer.
Nagaland Minor Mineral Concession Rules 2004
Due to the collection of royalty by the Forest Department on minor minerals like sand, boulder, gravel, clay, brick etc till, the aforesaid rules could not be operationalise in the state.
However, the state government has issued notification to operationalise the Nagaland Minor Minor Concession Rules 2004 based on the recommendation of the Committee constituted by the state government.
And the department is all set to implement the rules during 2017, wherein it is contemplating to create district and sub-divisional offices in all the eleven districts of Nagaland.
The department was of the view that if this Rules is effectively enforce, it can generate about 5-10 crores revenue annually to the state exchequer and will create about 200 to 300 employment avenues to the educated unemployed youths of the state.
(Source: http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/)