Shimla, Sept. 3 -- Cash-strapped Himachal Pradesh is looking to tap its mining potential to boost state revenue, with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday announcing plans to create a separate department to oversee mining activities and a new policy for dredging riverbeds.

Responding to a question raised by BJP MLA Surender Shourie in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly on dredging of the Beas river and its tributaries, Sukhu said the proposed department would bring all mining-related activities under one umbrella and could generate revenue of up to Rs 3,000 crore for the state.

"Dredging operations are currently being undertaken through the Forest Corporation," Sukhu said, adding that the government plans to establis...