Kolkata, Nov 18 (IANS) The state-owned National Mineral Development Corp (NMDC) will invest Rs.10 billion to explore, develop and mine coal blocks in West Bengal, a top company official said here Tuesday.”We already have two coal blocks in Madhya Pradesh, and this is the third one,” NMDC chairman and managing director Rana Som told reporters.

Through the public-public partnership, the two companies will explore the Deocha-Pachami coal block in the state’s Birbhum district.

The initial investment will go into land acquisition and purchase of high-duty machineries, Som said.