Bhubaneswar: Odisha is soon formulating a policy for minor minerals for sustainable and more disciplined supply of minor minerals for public, private and industrial use.

The Odisha chief secretary, Asit Tripathy, while chairing a meeting here on Saturday, directed the additional chief secretary, revenue and disaster management, Pradipta Mohapatra, for formulation of a more progressive policy taking into consideration the best practices in other States of the country.

The study team, which visited various States to study the best practices, presented their report in the meeting.

Tripathy said, ” In our State a separate directorate has been set up for regulation of minor minerals like sand, morum, chips. Presently, these Sairat sources are being managed and monitored by the respective tehsildars. Study teams were sent to four different States of Punjab, Telengana, Rajasthan and Karnataka to have a field level knowledge of the practices adopted in those States. The reports of the team will be further analysed and customised in Odisha context. These inputs will be helpful in formulation of a more dynamic and need based policy.”

Team led by revenue special secretary RN Palei and additional secretary Avaya Nayak visited Punjab and Rajasthan, team led by special secretary Shashadhara Nayak visited Telengana and Karnataka.

Additional chief secretary Raj Kumar Sharma was present.