TN TO INSTALL CCTV CAMERAS TO CHECK ILLEGAL MINING Operations of granite quarries in Tamil Nadu will be placed under CCTV surveillance, as the state government gears up to crack the whip on illegal mining activities. For the first time in the country, the activities in the quarries and movement of granite slabs will be monitored through CCTV from the headquarters of state-owned Tamil Nadu Minerals Limited (TAMIN) in Chennai. The state is also making its mining tenement registry hi-tech using Global Information System (GIS) and satellite images. The illegal granite quarrying scam recently unearthed in Madurai has prompted the state government to set up a monitoring mechanism for mining operations in the state. The move also comes in the wake of the recent Madras high court direction to the government to form guidelines for stringent punishment of those indulging in illegal quarrying and transportation of minerals. “It is part of the government’s efforts to protect the welfare and safety of the legitimate miners and other people living near the mining areas”, a senior official from Industries’ department told AIMLSM. Accordingly, as a part of the first phase, officials have identified seven “vulnerable” mining areas including Krishnagiri, Tirunelveli and Tiruvanamalai districts to install CCTVs. “The camera surveillance system will be used in combination with access control system, addressing system, building automaton system and vehicle monitoring system”, the official said, adding that the cameras will be capable of taking wide and close angel shots to check all activities. “All the visual and data will be stored in the centralized system, which can be analyzed later,” he added. In addition to the CCTV installation, the district administration will keep a close watch on the boundaries of mineral bearing areas and check violations through the mining tenement registry. “At first, we will implement the project in Ciombtore, Salem and Tirunelveli. The remaining six districts including Madurai, Krishnagiri, Trichy, Virudhunagar and Ariyalur will be added when clearances are obtained from the government,” a senior official from the state geology and mining department. ( By R Satyanarayana, Leader, Government of Tamil Nadu, Ministry of Mines and Geology, AICGO&SLM / AIMLSM, Chennai, 29-08-2013, Volume – 19, Part.4)
Posted on: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 03:33:06 +0000
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