The Mining Surveillance System (MSS) has been successful in checking illegal mining activities around mining leases. The system was developed to   assist the State Governments to detect and curb illegal mining activities. The system checks a region of 500 meters around the existing mining lease boundary using satellitic imagery to search for any unusual activity which is likely to be illegal mining. Any discrepancy found is flagged-off as a trigger. The triggers thus generated are forwarded to respective State Governments for verification through field visit. A user friendly mobile app for MSS has also been developed for Citizens and State Governments to ensure ease of access and transparency. 793 triggers have been generated in 4 phases and in 80 cases unauthorized mining activities have been confirmed by the State Governments. As per Section 23C of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957, State Governments are responsible for taking action in the cases of illegal mining.

Summary of phase-wise details of triggers generated and action taken thereon (since inception of MSS) are furnished below:

 

	Generated	Verified	Unauthorized Mining Confirmed
Phase-I (Major)(2016-17)	296	287	47
Phase-II (Major)(2018-19)	52	45	5
Phase-II (Minor) (2018-19)	130	104	9
Phase-III (Major)(2021-22)	177	97	12
Phase-IV (Major)-I (2022-23)	61	24	7
Phase-IV (Major)-II (2022- 23)	77*	-	-

*recently generated triggers in June 2023

This information was given by Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

 

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BY/RKP

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