Uttarakhand is sitting on reserves of 10,000 metric tonnes of high-quality silica sand, a mineral used by the glass industry, the state Assembly was informed today.
Replying to a question by Congress member Navprabhat, state minister Indira Hridayesh said that the Purola and Mori blocks in Uttarkashi have reserves of 10,000 metric tonnes of silica sand.
Although, currently, mining leases for silica are being given on a first come, first served basis as per a 2011 mineral policy, the state government may consider alloting them on the grounds of merit to augment its financial resources, she said.
She was responding to a suggestion by the MLA that the state should either tap the mineral itself or in collaboration with private companies for its sale at market rates.
