Guwahati: Both government and private agencies should expedite exploration efforts due to the pivotal role of minerals and mining in Assam's growth, Ravi Kota, the Chief Secretary of the state, stressed on Friday.
The official made the appeal during a day-long workshop on exploring Assam's mineral wealth jointly organized by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL) at the Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati on Friday. Sanjay Lohiya, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Mines, highlighted policies to intensify exploration and extraction. Lohiya noted that he foresaw "significant growth in India's metals and mining sector in the coming years."
Dr. Krishna Kumar Dwivedi, principal secretary to the Chief Minister of Assam, welcomed exploration agencies to the state, while assuring the government's support. Siladitya Sengupta, DDG of GSI, outlined achievements and future plans for exploration in Assam. Manish Kumar, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Mines, discussed the role of the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) and incentive schemes. Meanwhile, the Department of Geology & Mining, Govt of Assam, MECL, and Directorate General of Hydrocarbons have also presented a future roadmap for developing the state's mineral and petroleum sector.
The mineral sector of Assam is witnessing new opportunities like renewed mining leases, new allocation orders, and plans to increase the performance fourfold, N Anand, managing director of Assam Mineral Development Corporation Limited, told Business NorthEast recently.
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