An agreement between the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) would be signed soon to track illegal mining across the country, Union Mines Secretary Balvinder Kumar said here on Thursday.
He was speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of a new IBM building here.
Kumar said plans have been finalised to track illegal mining by using space technology and satellite imagery in partnership with the ISRO. This requires the States to utilise remote sensing technology to take satellite images of their mines and update them every 15-30 days.
It would help the authorities ascertain the extent of mining operations and check illegal extraction of minerals, he said.
IBM sources said the Union Mines Ministry has asked the States to analyse the feasibility of adopting this system to monitor illegal mining within their boundaries. Maharashtra, which is already monitoring illegal mining with the help of remote sensing technology, would be of great help to other States, the officials added.
It may be recalled that widespread illegal mining in the States like Odisha, Karnataka and Goa had led to closure of a number of mines in these States in recent years. The matter led to the intervention of the Supreme Court and the Central empowered committee which recommended suspension of mining operations and reforms in the sector.