Srinagar, Dec 12: To curb the illegal extraction and transportation of minerals in Jammu and Kashmir, the Department of Geology and Mining has taken various hi-tech initiatives and measures including Hi-Tech cameras at Mineral check posts, Automatic software leveraging image processing technology and I-Check Gates.
Joint Director Geology and Mining Department, Khawaja Nisar Ahmad told Rising Kashmir that the department has taken various initiatives for monitoring and surveillance of illegal extraction and transportation of minerals in the region. These measures will be implemented very soon on the ground, he said.
“We are mulling to introduce Automatic software leveraging image processing technology that can detect suspicious activities (Illegal Mining) within a range of 500m outside the mining lease boundary. Additionally, the system automatically triggers alerts for unauthorized activities, flagging any detected discrepancies for immediate attention,” he said.
The Joint Director further said that in parallel, the creation of Hi-Tech Mineral Check Posts, equipped with CCTV cameras, aims to provide ongoing monitoring of the illegal extraction and transportation of minor minerals from the leased-out areas.
“Currently, the department has set up 22 Hi-Tech Mineral check posts, each outfitted with CCTV cameras to enable real-time monitoring and surveillance. An additional 89 such posts are currently in the process of becoming operational,” he stated.
The Joint Director further said that the department has proposed the installation of mining i-Check Gates across 40 units, with 2 units designated for each district in the UT of J&K. This initiative aims to maintain continuous 24/7 vigilance on mining and mineral transportation, eliminating the need for manual intervention, he said.
“This innovative system is designed to track suspicious vehicle movements, preventing pilferage and leakage of minerals without human intervention. It will trigger alerts to the Decision Support System, enabling effective monitoring and supervision of mining activities,” the officer said.
The Joint Director also highlighted the department’s ongoing efforts to introduce on-the-spot imposition and realization of penalties for violators engaged in illegal mining through the utilization of Point of Sale (POS) machines.
“We have set in motion a proposal for the installation of Vehicle Tracking Devices equipped with Load Sensors on vehicles engaged in the transportation of minor minerals,” he added.
Another official at the department said these initiatives are crucial and timely, representing a necessary response to address the pressing issue of illegal extraction and transportation of minerals in Jammu and Kashmir.
“There is optimism that these measures will play a significant role in bringing order to the current challenges and effectively curbing unauthorized activities related to mineral extraction and transportation in the region,” he said.
