With a view to curb unlawful mining in the State, the Gujarat Government on Tuesday has initiated a pilot project of deploying drone-based surveillance system.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani launched ‘Trinetra’ drones to keep a hawk eye with the application of surveillance technology to check illegal mining of minerals as well as sands from the riverbeds. Illegal mining of minerals, especially in riverbeds where cases of sand mining are considered to be rampant would be curbed.
Plethora of cases related to unlawful sand mining on the riverbeds of bigger rivers like the Sabarmati, Orsang, Tapi and Bhadar are being reported. Now onwards persons found indulging in illegal or unauthorised mining will be nabbed and police complaints filed against them basis monitoring by drones.
Gujarat has vast mineral wealth spread over 686 blocks. The State has already carried out detailed digitisation of mines on altitude and latitude basis. Similarly, barcodes and hologram special security marks are being printed on royalty passes to check illegal transportation of minerals. In 2016-17, the state government earned a royalty of Rs 997 crore from mines and minerals and Rs 1200 crore in 2017-18. The state filed 8577 cases connected to illegal mining in 2016-17 and recovered Rs 42 crore in fines, while it filed 7876 such cases and recovered Rs 62 crore in the year 2017-18.
‘The decision for application of technology and training of manpower has been taken after a month’s close watch of the activities of the State’s departments like police, mines and minerals, directly concerning the public, to keep an eye on corrupt systems and illegal activities. ‘Trinetra’ (meaning third eye) drones technology is part of the State’s Government policy of providing transparent, corruption-free governance. It would gradually cover the State’s entire geographical area of about 2-lakh sq km, beginning with sensitive zones,’ said CM Rupani adding that gradually drone surveillance would be extended to water supply, road and buildings and other departments too.
Giving details of the State Government’s efforts to check illegal mining of minerals, Geology and Mines Commissioner Rupwant Singh said that detailed digitisation of mines is being done on altitude and latitude basis. Similarly, barcodes and hologram special security marks are printed on royalty passes to check illegal transportation of minerals.
He said that Gujarat has vast mineral wealth spread over 686 blocks. As per the Chief Minister’s directive it has been decided to go for online auction of mineral wealth of the State, to ensure maximum revenue, Rs 9,000 crore were earned as royalty and premium because of online auction of limestone from three major blocks on Kutch district alone.