Government on Wednesday told the Lok Sabha that the Mining Surveillance System (MSS) has been successful in curbing illegal mining activities in the country.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi in a written reply to a question on Mining Surveillance System during Question Hour, said, ‘MSS is a satellite-based monitoring system which aims to detect illegal mining activity through automatic remote-sensing detection technology.’
He said the system records any landform disturbances up to 500 m beyond the lease boundary and generates trigger, which is investigated by the State Government and necessary action is taken by them. The Minister said almost all mining leases of major minerals in the country have been mapped on MSS. In the initial phase(Phase-I), based on the satellite imageries, the data has been analysed and a total 296 triggers for mining leases of major minerals have been generated across the country in the year 2016-17.
‘Out of the 296 triggers, the respective State Governments have verified 287 triggers. Out of these 287 triggers, in 47 cases, unauthorized mining has been detected / confirmed. In the second phase of MSS, based on satellite imageries of the year 2017-18, the data has been analysed and 52 triggers generated. Field verification of 45 triggers have been carried out by State Governments as on 03/07/2019. In four cases, un-authorised mining was detected,’ he said.
The Minister said the State Governments were also requested to extend the MSS for the mining leases of minor minerals. Some State Governments have mapped few mining leases of minor minerals on pilot basis.
‘In total 130 triggers were generated for minor minerals, out of which 104 triggers have been verified and in nine cases, unauthorised mining has been detected,’ he said.
