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Tamil Nadu Plans Technology-Led Expansion to Boost Mining Revenue
Tamil Nadu wants to collect more money from its minerals while protecting the environment.
The state earned Rs.
1,079 crore from minerals between April and June.
This was more than the Rs.
999 crore earned during the same period last year.
The government plans to create a corporation to manage mining and sell processed minerals.
It is also collecting a tax on land containing minerals.
Officials say illegal mining has caused lost revenue and environmental damage.
To find violations, the state is using drones, GPS devices, satellite images and electronic weighbridges.
More than a thousand quarries have been surveyed, and hundreds were found to have broken rules.
The government has also created enforcement teams to stop illegal mining and monitor officials.
Tamil Nadu recorded Rs. 1,079 crore in mineral revenue from April to June, up from Rs. 999 crore during the same period last year.
The government plans to create the Tamil Nadu Mineral Resources Development Corporation Limited to expand mining, processing, value addition and marketing.
Mineral-bearing land tax generated Rs. 2,265 crore in the last financial year and Rs. 599 crore during the first three months of the current financial year.
Authorities are using task forces, drones, GPS tracking and integrated weighbridges to curb illegal mining and mineral transportation.
Officials surveyed 1,085 quarries, detected violations at 315 and imposed fines totaling Rs. 300 crore, while reporting increased seizures and FIRs.
- Who
- The Tamil Nadu government, its natural resources and geology and mining departments, district officials, and private mining operators are involved.
- What
- Tamil Nadu is seeking to increase mining revenue, reform the mining sector and strengthen enforcement against illegal quarrying.
- Where
- Tamil Nadu, India.
- When
- Mineral revenue figures cover April to June of the current financial year; the Supreme Court judgment cited was issued in July 2024.
- Why
- The government wants to increase revenue, reduce alleged leakages and illegal mining, improve accountability, and protect the environment.
Government Expansion and Enforcement
Private-Sector and Environmental Concerns
Control of mining operations
Government Expansion and Enforcement
The government says a state corporation can improve revenue, manage mining directly, add value to minerals and make the sector more accountable.
Private-Sector and Environmental Concerns
The article reports allegations that private players have earned large profits through irregularities, causing losses to the government.
Environmental impact
Government Expansion and Enforcement
Authorities say drones, satellite imagery, task forces and digital monitoring will help prevent illegal quarrying and protect the environment.
Private-Sector and Environmental Concerns
The article reports that indiscriminate quarrying by private operators has contributed to environmental degradation.
Restrictions and enforcement
Government Expansion and Enforcement
The government has banned transporting rocks and minerals to other states for three months and has increased seizures, FIRs and quarry inspections.
Private-Sector and Environmental Concerns
The reported detection of illegal quarries and violations indicates that unauthorized mining and transportation remain significant problems.
Key facts
- Mineral revenue
- Rs. 1,079 crore from April to June, compared with Rs. 999 crore during the same period last year.
- Mineral-bearing land tax
- Rs. 2,265 crore was collected in the last financial year and Rs. 599 crore in the first three months of the current financial year.
- Planned corporation
- Tamil Nadu Mineral Resources Development Corporation Limited would undertake mining, mineral separation, value addition, imports and marketing.
- Quarry surveys
- Officials surveyed 1,085 quarries and detected violations at 315 of them.
- Fines
- Quarrying violations resulted in penalties totaling Rs. 300 crore.
- Vehicle monitoring
- GPS devices had been installed in 12,138 mineral-transport vehicles and linked to the management portal.
- Enforcement technology
- The state is deploying drones, LiDAR-equipped drones, satellite imagery, GPS and integrated weighbridges.
Sources
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