Govt plans to deploy drones to check illegal sand mining

According to the GO, “State after careful examination of recommendation from Director of Geology and Mining, has decided to accept the implementation of drone technology to determine the exact quantum of minerals quarried from the leasehold sites by way of detection through satellite and to monitor and prevent illegal mining activities in the State”.

Recently, Union Ministry of Mines has advised the State governments to use the drone technology for regulation and monitoring mining activities and drone survey can be undertaken as per the guidelines of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Meanwhile, Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was also filed by an advocate VBR Menon, in Madras High Court, with the prayer of implementation of drone technology in mining activities for which the High Court has questioned the State government why drones should not be used to check illegal mining.

Based on the advice of union government and High Court, State issued the GO sanctioning Rs 50 lakh for the project. It also authorised the Director of Geology and Mining, to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with Anna University, to avail the drone technology services from the Department of Aerospace, Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) for mining related application.

Director of Geology and Mining, while highlighting the importance of drones in mining, said that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) will help in lease boundary fixing and demarcation, identification of violation in terms of area, depth and volume, surveillance to monitor active and illegal mining for regulation and pre and post survey of leased area to assess the actual quantum of minerals removed.