Mines Ministry has launched the mining surveillance system (MSS), a pan-India surveillance network using latest satellite technology, to check illegal mining. MSS is a satellite-based monitoring system, which aims to check illegal mining activity through automatic remote-sensing detection technology.
The Indian Bureau of Mines, on behalf of the mines ministry, has developed MSS, in co-ordination with the Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG), Gandhinagar and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY). The system checks 500 meters around the existing mining lease boundary to search for any unusual activity relating to illegal mining, if any unusual activity takes place outside the perimeter of a mine boundary up to 500 metres, the MSS system will generate automatic triggers and same will be intimated to the IBM control room in Hyderabad and subsequently intimated to the state mining officials to verify whether the mine owner has indulged in illegal mining and if the mine owner is found excavating ore outside his territory, the state government can impose fine against him.
Mines Minister Piyush Goyal, said that the technology will ensure sustainable utilization of the country's mineral resources. The new system will cover major minerals, including coal, iron ore and bauxite at present and minerals like sand, lime stone and granite will be brought under its ambit in the coming days.