A total of six triggers were generated of suspected unauthorised activities in the mining areas of Chhattisgarh in the Mining Surveillance System (MSS) launched by Union Ministry on Mines, the Central Government has informed.
In the initial phase, a total of 296 triggers have been generated in the MSS software across the States which covers a total area of 3994.87 hectares under the system, it informed.
Notably, Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines, Piyush Goyal had launched the Mining Surveillance System (MSS) in New Delhi on Saturday.
State-wise data for successful triggers can be summarized as Madhya Pradesh (46), Goa (42), Karnataka (35), Gujarat (32), Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (29 each), Rajasthan (23), Odisha (20), Himachal Pradesh (11), Maharashtra (8), Meghalaya (7), Chhattisgarh and Telangana (6 each) and Jharkhand (2).
The Union Ministry of Mines, through Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), has developed the MSS, in coordination with Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG), Gandhinagar and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), to use space technology for curbing illegal mining activity in the country.
Been developed under the Digital India Programme, MSS is one of the first such surveillance systems developed in the world using space technology. The current system of monitoring of illegal mining activity is based on local complaints and unconfirmed information. There is no robust mechanism to monitor the action taken on such complaints.
Notably, the Automatic software leveraging image processing technology generates automatic triggers of unauthorized activities. These triggers will be studied at a Remote Sensing Control Centre of IBM and then transmitted to the district level mining officials for field verification.
A check for illegality in operation is conducted and reported back using a mobile app.
A user-friendly mobile app has been created which can be used by these officials to submit compliance reports of their inspections. The mobile app also aims to establish a participative monitoring system where the citizens also can use this app and report unusual mining activity.
The advantages of remote sensing technology based monitoring system are that it is Transparent (Public will be provided an access to the system); Bias-free and Independent (The system has no human interference); Deterrence Effect (‘Eyes watching from the sky’); Quicker Response and Action (The mining areas will be monitored regularly. Sensitive areas will be monitored more frequently); Effective Follow-up (action taken on triggers will be followed-up at various levels like DMG, State Mining Secretary, State Office and Headquarters Office of IBM and Ministry of Mines, GoI).
There are in total 3843 mining leases of major minerals in India. Out of which, there are 1710 working mines and 2133 non-working mines.
Most of the working mines have been digitized. Efforts for completing the digitization of non-working mines are being made through the State Governments, which would be completed in three months’ time.
There are in total 3843 mining leases of major minerals in India. Out of which, there are 1710 working mines and 2133 non-working mines. Most of the working mines have been digitized. Efforts for completing the digitization of non-working mines are being made through the State Governments, which would be completed in 3 months’ time.
MSS is a satellite-based monitoring system which aims to establish a regime of responsive mineral administration, through public participation, by curbing instances of illegal mining activity through automatic remote sensing detection technology.
It may also be recalled that the Union Ministry of Power has asked Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Kerala and Uttarakhand to modify their rules to enable auctioning of minor mineral blocks, officials informed.
It may be recalled that the Chhattisgarh government on the other hand had also sent a proposal to the Union Coal Ministry for increasing the rate of coal royalty from existing 14 % to 30 %.
A Study Group has been constituted to consider the revision of rate of royalty. Final recommendation of Study Group is under consideration.
The Chhattisgarh government is looking for investors globally in the mining sector who would also come with downstream projects apart from taking up mining activities in the State.
The Government has decided to prefer such investors in sanctioning of Mining lease and Prospecting lease, officials informed.
All such global mining industries will benefit from the similar incentives offered to all other industries in the State, they informed.
It may be recalled that the central public sector undertaking Hindustan Copper ltd has signed a joint venture agreement with Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) for exploration, mining and beneficiation of copper and associated minerals.
Hindustan Copper said in a BSE filing that it has executed a Joint Venture (JV) agreement on August 30, 2016 with Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation ltd, a Government of Chhattisgarh enterprise for exploration, mining and benefaction of copper and its associated minerals in the state of Chhattisgarh."
In the JV, Hindustan Copper will hold 74 per cent stake while CMDC will hold 26 per cent.