BHUBANESWAR: The state government today set December 28 as the deadline for mineral transporters to install GPS (Global Positioning System) tracking device in their vehicles to enable it to monitor the transport of minerals from source to destination.
This was decided in the State Level Task Force meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief secretary A P Padhi here today.
In order to streamline the mining activities in the state, the state government has taken a series of majors to keep the mining and transportation of mineral activities under satellite surveillance.
"Mineral carriers without GPS tracking systems will be not given permission for transportation," Director of Mines Deepak Mohanty told reporters after the meeting.
Meanwhile, Odisha Space Application Centre (ORSAC), the state arm of ISRO, has developed a software to enable the Department of Steel and Mines to regulate the mining activities through electronic mode. The department has implemented the IT based mineral administration through a robust software application named Integrated Mines and Mineral Management System (i3MS).
After the Ministry of Mines launched a satellite-based illegal mining detection system in October last year, the state government decided in February to develop differential global positioning system (DGPS) for regular satellite checking of mining activities at the ground level.
The Chief Secretary directed district collectors and district superintendents of police to closely monitor transportation of minerals to detect overloading and take stringent action against the erring transporters.
He further directed the district collectors of the mineral bearing districts to hold the District Task Force meetings regularly and intensify the enforcement activities.
Padhi also ordered a check on the pollution levels in the mining areas and installation of equipment for air quality monitoring in mining areas. Air quality monitoring equipment will installed in five mines. Meanwhile, air pollution detectors have been installed in three mines, sources said.
The Odisha State Pollution Control Board has installed 11 such devices outside the mining lease areas to monitor the air quality. Another 23 devices will installed outside the monitoring areas by end of December.