The Industrial Development (Mining) Department of Uttarakhand has announced enhanced measures to monitor mining activities across the state. Night vision drone cameras will be deployed in the plains districts of Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and Nainital to prevent illegal mining in rivers during nighttime.
In addition, GPS-enabled chips will be installed in vehicles transporting mining material, allowing authorities to track their movements and ensure that the material is sourced only from approved leases. These measures are part of the department’s efforts to curb illegal mining and increase transparency in operations.
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Last year, the department collected over Rs 1,050 crore in revenue from mining materials, surpassing its target. This year, the revenue target has been set at Rs 950 crore, prompting stricter monitoring measures.
Currently, 25 check gates with CCTV cameras have been established to monitor vehicles carrying mining material and verify transport permits (ravannas). The GPS chips will further ensure that only authorised material is transported from designated mining areas.
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The commencement of the second phase of mining, which typically begins on October 1, has been delayed in mountainous regions due to water accumulation. However, preparations are underway to fully implement the enhanced surveillance system.
Rajpal Legha, Director of Mining, stated that these continuous measures aim to make the mining process more transparent, organised, and free from illegal activities, ensuring proper revenue collection and sustainable resource management.