Arunachal Pradesh marked a historic milestone today with the launch of its First Commercial Coal Mine in Arunachal Pradesh at the Namchik-Namphuk coal block. The event, held on 6 October 2025, symbolises a new chapter of growth, energy security, and sustainable development for the state and the Northeast region.
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy led the day’s events. He performed Bhoomi Poojan, handing over the mining lease, flagging off CPPL’s tools and machinery, and participating in a 100-tree plantation drive. The Namchik-Namphuk block, holding 1.5 crore tonnes of coal reserves, was originally allocated in 2003 but faced years of delay. Through a transparent auction in 2022, the project was revived, allowing private participation and ending a two-decade-long wait.
The launch aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of EAST – Empower, Act, Strengthen, Transform, guiding development in the Northeast. With this mine, Arunachal joins India’s coal success story, contributing to the world’s second-largest coal producer, which crossed one billion tonnes last year. The project is expected to generate over ₹100 crore in annual state revenue and create new jobs for local youth.
This commercial launch also ends illegal mining and misuse of natural resources, ensuring transparency and accountability. For the first time, critical mineral exploration has begun in Arunachal and Assam, with two and five blocks respectively under auction. The government has urged officials to speed up operations to boost employment and strengthen the local economy in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission — local resources, local jobs, and local growth.
While promoting economic progress, the government reaffirmed that development will never come at the cost of ecology. The Northeast’s natural beauty. Its valleys, rivers, and communities will guide India’s model of sustainable mining. Under Mission Green Coal Regions, 57,000 hectares of mined land have already been reclaimed, with another 16,000 hectares planned by 2030. Mining, officials stressed, is now seen as an ecological, economic, and social duty shaped by community participation.
Over the last 11 years, investments worth ₹6 lakh crore have transformed the Northeast. Arunachal’s allocation alone rose 16 times — from ₹6,000 crore before 2014 to ₹1 lakh crore after. The state has seen major progress through GST reforms, boosting tea, silk, handicrafts, and tourism. Infrastructure has also surged with 16,000 km of highways, 80,000 km of rural roads, 2,000 bridges, 19 airports, and landmark projects like the Sela Tunnel and Bhupen Hazarika Bridge. Ongoing railway projects worth ₹77,000 crore and the Northeast Gas Grid are powering industries, while the Vibrant Villages Programme has connected 450 border villages, turning the region into a national growth engine.
The coal sector continues to prioritise worker welfare and safety. Initiatives include a Corporate Salary Package with insurance and loans, ₹1 crore accident cover, ₹2 crore air accident cover, and ₹25 lakh ex-gratia for fatal accidents. Contract workers now have insurance for the first time, and a new uniform scheme is being introduced to promote dignity and unity among workers.
The launch of the Namchik-Namphuk coal mine embodies the spirit of balanced development — integrating growth, ecology, and community welfare. It stands as a model of First Commercial Coal Mine in Arunachal Pradesh, advancing India’s energy independence, sustainability, and inclusive progress under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership.
