Natural Resources minister T.K. Prabhu announced the entry of the public sector into mining with the formation of Tamil Nadu Mineral Resources Development Corporation Limited to curb illegal quarrying and improve governance. He outlined that the move would bring state participation into a sector hitherto dominated by private players and alleged irregularities. The new body is intended to undertake mining operations and to strengthen oversight. Mr Prabhu said the ministry would set up a separate drone section, an integrated digital mineral management platform and a mines control and monitoring centre to enable real-time oversight of operations. The platform would monitor Geological and Mines department activities, while the control centre would use modern facilities for continuous surveillance. Drones and satellite imagery would be used to detect unauthorised extraction and to assess the volume of mineral removal from leased areas. He said the corporation would carry out extraction, separate minerals, improve quality, import required material, undertake value addition and marketing and facilitate investment in the mining department. The minister noted that private involvement had produced large profits amid allegations of irregularities and environmental degradation due to indiscriminate quarrying. The state entity would be expected to capture revenues and promote scientific mines management. A monitoring section would investigate allegations against officials and act within a fixed time frame, coordinating with the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption and other agencies, the minister said. A grievance centre would be created to assist the public and mining entrepreneurs and regulations would be reconsidered to ensure availability of stone for sculptors and grinding stone makers. The ministry also plans policies to analyse techniques for recycling mineral waste to promote sustainable practices. Prabhu announced a plant fossil park at Gunduperumbedu in Sriperumbudur in Kanchipuram district to protect fossils estimated to be 600 million (600 mn) years old. A detailed project report will be prepared to develop mine tourist centres at abandoned quarries. The minister framed the measures as part of a wider effort to combine state-led production with technological oversight to check illegal mining.