The State Government has decided to ask the District Collectors to prepare a mining plan for all minor mineral sources in the district in advance so that it facilitates the process of settlement.
Like major minerals, similar mining plan will be prepared for all minor minerals sources to expedite process of settlement, a senior official said in the State Government.
In order to streamline the minor mineral availability, several steps are being taken by the Department of Revenue and Disaster Management.
Similarly, the Public Sector Undertakings will now be asked to apply for minor mineral lease, so that these materials are provided in time for the execution of public works.
No PSUs are coming forward to have queries of minor minerals for which there are lots of delays and hurdles faced for public works.
Recently, Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy chaired a meeting to sort out issues in minor mineral sector, where it was pointed out that steps are to be taken and stringent action is needed to prevent theft and smuggling of minor minerals.
Accordingly, it was decided that formulation of the Odisha Minor Mineral Prevention of Theft and Smuggling (OMMPTS) Rules are needed to be formulated at an early date.
It was decided that Department of Revenue and Disaster Management will formulate OMMPTS Rules as soon as possible.
This will help out the district authorities to curb theft and smuggling of minor minerals in the State effectively, officials say.
The meeting decided to improve the human resources capacity of the newly carved out Directorate of Minor Minerals in view of the shortage of officers.
The State Government has set up a Directorate of Minor Minerals in the line of the Directorate of Mines and due to shortage of officials enforcement is facing hurdle.
Under this backdrop, it was earlier decided to rope in Mining Officers from Directorate of Mines.
But the Directorate of Mines is also facing similar shortage, so roping in services of retired mining officers and mining experts for utilisation in the field.
In order to cub theft and smuggling, it was decided to make tehsil level enforcement cells functional and district Collectors will have to take a call on the issues like human resources management and others.
Superannuated Revenue Inspectors and Amins will be roped in to handle enforcement activities in the field level, said an official.
There will be effective coordination between Department of Steel and Mines and Department of Revenue and Disaster Management to scale up such activities and ACS Steel and Mines will monitor the situation on regular basis, pointed out an official.
Out of 31 minerals inserted in the list of minor minerals, there are about 10 minerals which are found in Odisha.