Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Tamil Nadu Launches Mining Corporation, Expands Measures Against Illegal Mining
Tamil Nadu is creating a government company to work in the mining business.
The company will mine minerals and help process and sell them.
The government says this could improve the way mining is managed.
New computers and a monitoring centre will watch mines in real time.
Drones and satellite images will help find illegal mining.
Officials accused of wrongdoing will be investigated by a special monitoring section.
A park will protect very old plant fossils in Kanchipuram district.
The government also wants to recycle mineral waste and help people report problems.
Natural Resources Minister T.K. Prabhu announced the creation of Tamil Nadu Mineral Resources Development Corporation Limited.
The corporation will undertake mining, mineral separation, quality improvement, imports, value addition and marketing.
A digital mineral management platform and mines control centre will monitor mining activities in real time.
A drone section will use satellite imagery to detect illegal mining and estimate minerals extracted from leased areas.
Tamil Nadu will also establish an investigation section, a plant fossil park and proposed mine tourist centres.
- Who
- Natural Resources Minister T.K. Prabhu and the Tamil Nadu government.
- What
- The government announced a public-sector mining corporation and several measures to monitor and regulate mining.
- When
- Tuesday, during a discussion on demands for grants to the ministry.
- Where
- Tamil Nadu, including the Geological and Mines Department and Gunduperumbedu in Sriperumbudur, Kanchipuram district.
- Why
- To expand public-sector participation in mining, address alleged irregularities and environmental damage, and prevent illegal mining.
- New corporation
- Tamil Nadu Mineral Resources Development Corporation Limited
- Mining activities
- Mining, mineral separation, quality improvement, imports, value addition and marketing
- Digital monitoring
- An integrated digital mineral management platform will monitor the Geological and Mines Department in real time.
- Illegal mining checks
- A drone section and mines control and monitoring centre will be established.
- Official investigations
- A monitoring section will investigate allegations against officials and coordinate with the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption and other agencies.
- Fossil protection
- A plant fossil park will be formed at Gunduperumbedu in Sriperumbudur, Kanchipuram district, for plant fossils described as 60 crore years old.
- Mining tourism
- A detailed project report will be prepared for mine tourist centres at abandoned stone quarries.