Unused and closed mines in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund district will be used for water conservation and economic activities, Collector Doman Singh said on Saturday.
Addressing officials of various departments, he sought an action plan and a proposal to this effect, a press release said.
Singh ordered district mining officer H.D. Bhardwaj to identify the closed and unused mines which can be utilized.
The Collector suggested that such mines can be used mainly for tourism, fisheries, duck farming, water conservation, boating, horticulture and irrigation.
These will boost the income of villagers, he said.
The funds available in MNREGA, DMF, environment and infrastructure, development cess and other departmental plans will be allotted for economic activities in these sites, the Collector said.
The mining officer said there are seven unused and closed mines including four in Barbaspur and each one in Basna, Saraipali and Bagbahra tehsils.