Kishan Reddy vows full central backing for sustainable mineral & coal growth in North‑East
Guwahati, June 28 (UNI) Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, on Saturday reaffirmed the Centre's 'unwavering support' for accelerating mineral and coal development across India's eight North‑Eastern states.
Speaking on the second day on the second North‑East Mining Ministers' Conclave here, Reddy said robust mining infrastructure, quicker project clearances and eco‑friendly practices are crucial to realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision.
'Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim are our Ashta Lakshmi,' the minister told delegates, stressing that stronger Centre–state coordination would create jobs, draw investment and spur inclusive growth.
Ministers and senior officials from all eight states presented detailed roadmaps covering block auctions, the hunt for critical minerals, efforts to revive coal mines, and moves to develop minor minerals with an eye on environmental safeguards.
Several representatives pressed for greater financial and technical assistance from New Delhi to overcome logistical hurdles in the resource‑rich but infrastructure‑poor region.
Additional Secretary (Mines) Sanjay Lohiya used the platform to urge the Geological Survey of India, Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited and state agencies to 'dramatically scale up' modern, time‑bound exploration—particularly for strategic minerals vital to energy security and high‑tech manufacturing.
'The policy and budgetary push is already in place; it must now translate into action on the ground,' he declared.
On the conclave's sidelines, Reddy inaugurated a new Indian Bureau of Mines regional office in Guwahati alongside Assam Mines Minister Kaushik Rai and Mines Secretary V L Kantha Rao.
The facility, officials said, will bolster regulatory oversight and provide technical support to budding mining projects across the North‑East.
UNI XC SS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
United News of India
30 minutes ago
- United News of India
RJD creating false impression on Waqf Board Act for Muslim votes: BJP's Samrat Chaudhary
Patna, June 30 (UNI) Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Samrat Chaudhary said today that the RJD was trying to create a false impression in order to get Muslim votes in the state assembly elections to be held in October-November this year. Chaudhary said that new Waqf Board Act was introduced for protecting the rights of poor Muslims but RJD was trying to mislead them to get minorities' votes in the Bihar assembly elections. "RJD has nothing to do with interests of Muslims and the party is only trying to get maximum votes from them in the upcoming assembly elections," he added. The Deputy Chief Minister said that RJD leaders had torn copies of the Women's Reservation Bill in parliament when the erstwhile Vajpayee government had placed it in the House. The Narendra Modi government had ultimately got it passed in both Houses of parliament, he pointed out. Chaudhary said that there was complete lawlessness in Bihar during the RJD regime and a large number of businessmen were forced to migrate to other states of the country. Even girls used to get frightened while going to college and people used to remain behind closed doors after sunset, he pointed out. "The Nitish Kumar government has given 50 percent reservation to women in Panchayati Raj institutions and 35 percent reservation in government services, making them empowered," the Deputy Chief Minister said, adding that the cycle and uniform schemes rolled out by the government helped in greater enrollment of students in schools. Pasmanda Muslims had also been given reservation in government services in Bihar, he stated. UNI KKS RN
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
NWKRTC's grievance redressal and review meet held in Belagavi
Belagavi: A grievance redressal and review meeting of the units and divisions of the North-Western Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) in the Belagavi district was held at the KPTCL hall on Monday. District minister Satish Jarkiholi presided over the meeting. The problems faced by passengers and students due to Shakti yojane, shortage of buses and staff, lack of funds to provide infrastructure at bus stands, additional bus facilities to provide adequate transport facilities to students and rural people, and other issues came up for discussion. Officials informed the minister that the Shakti yojane was causing problems to passengers in the city. They said that the superiors will be informed to facilitate additional buses to address the problems. Transport department officials informed that there was a shortage of staff in the Savadatti and Ramdurg units of the Dharwad division. A round of meetings will be held with the transport officials to recruit the staff required for these two units soon. Belagavi senior divisional controller Rajesh Huddar informed that there was a shortage of 50 buses and 150 staff in the Chikodi division. 516,000 people travel daily. Rs 1 crore is pending from the Shakti yojane to the transport department. The minister assured that everything would be resolved after discussing at the govt level to resolve the pending amount. On this occasion, minister Satish Jarkiholi accepted the memorandums submitted by the public appealing to fulfil various demands. The minister said that the new city bus station in Belagavi is being constructed by Smart City Ltd and is currently nearing completion. It will be inaugurated by CM Siddaramaiah soon. Transport corporation president MLAs Raju Kage, MLAs Raju Sait, Vishwas Vaidya, Buda president Laxman Rao Chingale, and officials were present.
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Government to roll out 20-year cooperative policy; aims 2 lakh PACS by February 2026: Amit Shah
India to launch 20-year national cooperative policy: Amit Shah NEW DELHI: In a sweeping reform aimed at reviving India's cooperative movement and boost employment, Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah on Monday announced that the National Cooperative Policy 2025–2045 will be unveiled soon, to establish at least one cooperative in every Indian village within the next five years. Speaking at a high-level meeting of state cooperation ministers during the celebrations marking the upcoming International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025, Shah said the policy will play a critical role in transforming the cooperative sector into a major economic pillar that empowers India's 1.4 billion citizens. "Under the National Cooperative Policy, each state's cooperative policy will be formulated according to the cooperative conditions of that state and specific goals will be set," Shah said. Policy push for 2 lakh new PACS by 2026 A central focus of the upcoming policy is the creation of 2 lakh new Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) by February 2026. These grassroots institutions, Shah said, are essential for ensuring financial access and agricultural support in rural areas. He set a January 31, 2026, deadline for all states to announce their individual cooperative policies aligned with the national vision. Shah cited three main reasons behind the weakening of the cooperative movement in India: laws were not changed over time, cooperative activities were neither expanded nor adapted with time, and recruitments were based on nepotism. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo To address these challenges, Shah highlighted the creation of Tribhuvan Sahkari University (TSU) — a first-of-its-kind institution aimed at building skilled manpower for the cooperative sector. Strengthening cooperative banks and credit societies Urban cooperative banks and credit societies also came under the spotlight. Shah noted that bringing these banks under the Banking Regulation Act and ensuring more oversight by the Reserve Bank of India has already led to the resolution of key issues. Natural farming and inter-cooperative models Shah called on state cooperation ministers to work in sync with agriculture departments to promote natural and organic farming. He cited Gujarat's "Cooperation Amongst Cooperatives' model as a successful case study, encouraging its replication nationwide. Shah also praised the PM Modi government's achievements from 2014 to 2024, highlighting how basic needs like housing, water, and food were met, and how the next step is to empower people as entrepreneurs through cooperatives. What else was discussed The day-long meeting also focused on: Multi-Purpose PACS (M-PACS) to diversify rural cooperative activities. Promotion of dairy and fisheries cooperatives. Rollout of the world's largest grain storage scheme in the cooperative sector. Review of three new national multi-state cooperative societies: National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL) National Cooperative Organic Limited (NCOL) Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) Plans for white revolution 2.0. Digitisation and computerisation of PACS and Registrar of Cooperative Societies offices. In the bigger picture With India set to chair the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, the upcoming National Cooperative Policy is expected to redefine the role of cooperation in economic development, aiming to make villages the new engines of prosperity through bottom-up empowerment.
