Inviting prospective investors to invest heavily in the mining industry of the north-east, development of north-eastern region (MDoNER) minister B K Handique said here on Sunday that there exists a huge potential for industries related to coal based power plants, coal based methane, granite, carbide and dimensional stones.

Keeping in mind the national environment policy, Handique called for sustainable mining exploration in the region and added that the ministry is ready to support private miners.

Speaking at the sixth Indian chamber of commerce business summit on north-east, the minister said, “Since minerals are bulk commodities, this sector generates huge trade and commerce for the economy.”

“The concept of geo-parks is developing very fast in the north-east. This integrated concept has huge implications for attracting geo-tourism. Since the north-east has ample geological resources, geo-tourism with fossil-park can become an important source of tourism revenue,” he added.

In a concurrent session on enhancing infrastructure in the north-eastern region, senior consultant from the department of environment & forests Ranjan Chatterjee emphasised on the role of private sector in fostering infrastructure growth in the region. He added that rail, road, air and water transport connectivity will have to be significantly enhanced in the north-east.

States like Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh are making rapid strides in sector like hydro-power, Chatterjee said, and he called for special powers to the Airport Authority of India (AAI), the Railway Board and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for implementing the projects in the north-east fast.