The Union Ministry of Mines is readying plans to use remote sensing satellite data to curb illegal mining across States, Mines Secretary Balvinder Kumar said on Thursday.
Satellite imageries taken regularly would help to keep an eye on legal boundaries of mined areas. The Ministry plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Space Research Organisation on using satellite data for mining. The next steps would be discussed with ISRO in early October, it is learnt. The Indian Bureau of Mines would be the nodal agency to implement the measures, which would form part of the reforms taking place in the mining sector.
Mr. Kumar was addressing the inaugural session of the ‘Mining and exploration convention and trade show’ organised by the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries.
The other plan is to use the GPS (Global Positioning System) to track major minerals that have been mined. The use of satellite data in mining was one of the proposals discussed at the mega meeting of departments called in New Delhi on September 7. Mr. Kumar recalled that at the meeting, the Prime Minister urged 60-odd Central ministries and departments to make use of space-based technologies in at least one of their areas.
Earth observation satellites are already used to estimate the kind of minerals and the extent of deposits present in an area. This information is used in exploration along with aerial surveys of mineral-rich areas. Major mining bodies such as Coal India Ltd. have also tried using GPS-based devices to keep watch on the mined ore and their transport.
Mr. Kumar also spoke of using mobile-based applications to enter data or get real-time information about minerals. ISRO is also deploying a fleet of regional navigation satellites to enable movement- and position-based solutions. According to an ISRO scientist, accurate satellite navigation data would be used for guiding machines, drilling, surveying and truck fleet management apart from avoiding vehicle collision near mining sites.
