(Making corrections in second paragraph)

Itanagar, Nov 10 (UNI) The Arunachal Pradesh government has decided to exploit its huge mineral resources including coal and gas in association with the private investors to boost its cash strapped economy.

The government's attempts to invite private investors after former chairman and director of Oil India Limited (OIL )Chudamani Ratnam and other OIL geologists have gone on record saying that crude trapped in shale and coal deposits in Arunachal could produce 140 million tonnes of oil per year for next 100 years against India's present consumption of 110 tonne per year, said Director of Geology and Mining Tasar Talar.

While the department had earned Rs 20.69 crore, Rs 28.26 crore and Rs 17.39 crore in 2005-06, 2004-05 and 2003-04 respectively, it has mobilised revenue of over Rs 9.24 crore till the first week of October this year, Mr Tadar told UNI, adding that crude oil, coal and minor minerals are the present sources of income.

India could be surplus in oil if the reservoirs in Arunachal are exploited. This would earn enough revenue for the state and Central governments, he added.

A drilling machine has been provided by the Centre recently to take up survey works in various parts of the state to estimate the available minerals, he added.

The vast stretch of hilly land boasts of hidden treasures, including 84.23 million tonnes of coal in Changlang district, 254.13 tonnes of dolomite in West Kameng district, 379.05 tonnes of limestone in Lohit, East Siang, Dibang Valley and Upper Subansiri districts, 3.26 tonnes of graphite in Upper Subansiri and Lower Subansiri districts, 76.12 tonne marble in Lohit and Dibang Valley, 1.25 tonnes of ferro-silicon quartzite in West Kameng besides huge un-surveyed reservoirs of lead and zinc in West Kameng, natural oil and gas in Changlang and West Kameng districts.

UNI XC PC CS