State Parliamentary Secretary for Geology and Mining Y. Patton, addressing the 30th State Geological Programming Board Meeting at Dimapur yesterday, informed that a resolution to this effect had been adopted in the recently concluded Budget Session of the Assembly, the release said. The move was aimed at harnessing Nagaland's natural resources and ensure economic uplift of the people.
The Geology and Mining Department was also conducting detailed geo-technical and geo-environmental investigations in all the districts to assess and evolve the safety measures of the people and property.
Mr Patton further pointed out that Nagaland is situated in a very high risk earthquake prone zone and the Department had intensified in-depth studies of seismological activities in the state by setting up seismic observation stations and V-SAT and other equipment.
He also informed that the government had constituted a 'Flying Squad Team' under State Level Task Force to control random and illegal mining. Check gates were set up at exit points in Wokha, Mokokchung and Mon districts, through which the state generated Rs 49.50 lakh from coal mining during the current year.
Collaborative projects with the National Metallurgical Laboratory at Jamshedpur on 'Pilot Scale Smelting' and pre-feasibility studies on Nickel-Cobalt-Chromium bearing magnetite ores from Nagaland for economically viable plant were likely to be completed by the end of next year, he said.