North Eastern Coalfields Ltd (NECL), an arm of Coal India Ltd, will start two opencast mines in Assam to boost its production by over 27% to 1.4 million by the end of 2009, with a total investment of over Rs 100 crore Currently NECL produces about 1.1 million tonne of coal a year and the two new mines are expected to generate 3 lakh tonne of coal. Sources close to the deal said, officials from the Assam Government have been apprised of the draft plan for the mines and the proposal now awaits environmental clearance.