In Assam, coal mining operations at North Eastern Coalfields (NEC), a unit of Coal India Limited (CIL), resumed today.  Union Minister of Coal Pralhad Joshi inaugurated the resumption of mining operations along with Chief Minister  Himanta Biswa Sarma at Tikak Colliery in Tinsukia District. <br />''<br />''AIR correspondent reports that mining operations at NEC were halted in 2020 due to certain environmental issues. NEC presently operates in Tikak Colliery in Margherita with two opencast projects namely Tikak OCP and Tikak Extension OCP with a combined coal production capacity of 4 lakh tonne per annum. <br />''<br />''NEC will also start producing coal from its Tirap OCP from coming fiscal year with a target to produce 10 lakh tonne of coal per annum. <br />''<br />''On this occasion, Mr Joshi said that increased production in the mines would generate more revenues for the state government, more employment for the people and also support small business activities as well as catering to the energy demand.<br />