Chennai, Aug 26:
Tamil Nadu Minister for Natural Resources T K Prabhu on Monday announced a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening mineral governance, improving surveillance, promoting geological heritage and modernising the State’s mining sector.
Making the announcements during the debate on the demand for grants for the Natural Resources Department in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, the Minister said the government would establish an integrated electronic mineral management platform to streamline activities in the geology and mining sector.
A State-level mining control and monitoring centre would also be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore. The department would further establish a dedicated mining surveillance wing using drones and satellite-based technology to strengthen monitoring and curb illegal activities.
Among the major announcements was the creation of a new public sector undertaking, the Tamil Nadu Mineral Resources Development Corporation Limited, to focus on the development and management of the State’s mineral resources.
A separate monitoring division would also be established within the Directorate of Geology and Mining.
The Minister announced plans to preserve geological heritage in Kancheepuram district. A plant fossil park would be established at the lakes located in Kunduperumbedu and Vellarai villages in Sriperumbudur taluk to protect plant fossils believed to be around 60 crore years old.
The government will also prepare a detailed project report for developing mining tourism centres through the public-private partnership model at abandoned mines and stone quarries.
T K Prabhu said new policies would be framed for the mining and mineral resources sector. The existing regulatory framework governing the availability of stones used by small entrepreneurs engaged in manufacturing traditional grinding stones and stone sculptures would also be reviewed and modified wherever necessary.
A grievance redressal centre would be established at the Directorate of Geology and Mining to assist members of the public and entrepreneurs associated with the mineral sector.