J&K Introduces Integrated Mining Surveillance System to Curb Illegal Mining

Ziraat Times News Desk

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday chaired a high-level review meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir Mining Department at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, focusing on modernization, digital surveillance, and regulatory reforms in the mineral sector.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary (Mining) Anil Kumar, the Director of Geology and Mining, all Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, and other senior officials.

A key highlight of the meeting was a presentation on the Integrated Mining Surveillance System (IMSS) — a digital initiative developed in collaboration with the Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG). The system provides real-time monitoring of mining activities through GPS-enabled tracking, PoS-linked e-challans, and e-Market dashboards. Officials informed that over 243 triggers had been generated for field verification to detect and prevent illegal mining.

Appreciating the initiative, the Chief Minister directed integration of all existing departmental portals with the IMSS platform to ensure seamless implementation and improve transparency. He also suggested including a citizen complaint feature supported by satellite imagery to strengthen public participation and accountability.

Omar Abdullah instructed officials to categorize active and inactive mineral vendors and establish a Directorate-level monitoring cell for real-time oversight. He emphasized that illegal mining cannot continue without administrative complicity and directed the department to use digital tools to eliminate collusion.

“With the technological tools now available, illegal operations are only possible if there’s collusion at lower levels. The department must use these systems effectively to end that possibility,” the Chief Minister asserted.

During the review, the department presented its reform measures under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) 2025–26, including a shift to auction-based block allocation, revised royalty structures, and the implementation of District Mineral Foundation Trusts (DMFTs) for local welfare.

The Chief Minister also reviewed exploration projects by MECL and GSI, including studies on sapphire, lithium, lignite, granite, graphite, gypsum, and base metals. He stressed on ensuring environmental compliance and responsible extraction, particularly in eco-sensitive zones.

Commending the department’s digital progress, Omar Abdullah called for sustained focus on transparency, accountability, and sustainability in Jammu and Kashmir’s mineral management.