Chief Secretary reviews functioning of Mining Department

SRINAGAR : Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, on Tuesday chaired a comprehensive review of the functioning of the Mining Department, with a special focus on the implementation and performance of the Integrated Mining Surveillance System (IMSS), a technology-driven platform designed for real-time monitoring of mining operations across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Mining; Chairperson, Pollution Control Committee; Director, Geology & Mining, and other senior officers of the concerned departments.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary emphasized the importance of leveraging the IMSS for ensuring transparency and curbing illegal mining activities across the UT.
He directed that every trigger or alert generated through the system must be followed up with concrete action on the ground. He stressed on fixing accountability in each case and taking strict legal action against delinquent officers or violators.
He further instructed that Deputy Commissioners be given access to the IMSS platform to enable them to take prompt and effective action against illegal mining activities within their jurisdictions. He also called upon the Mining Department to regularly monitor field-level responses and furnish periodic performance briefs to his office regarding the outcomes achieved.
The Chief Secretary commended the BISAG-N team for developing the IMSS and appreciated the live demonstration presented during the meeting, which showcased the system’s capability to detect, locate, and address instances of illegal mining with high precision.
Reviewing the progress on identification and auction of mineral blocks, the Chief Secretary urged the Pollution Control Committee to provide a comprehensive checklist of clearances and requirements so that all necessary formalities can be completed in one go, rather than in piecemeal fashion, which often causes unnecessary delays.
The meeting also took stock of the exploration and operationalization of both major and minor mineral blocks in J&K. The Chief Secretary underscored the need to expedite the process to enhance revenue generation. He also reviewed the progress of biogas exploration projects being undertaken in collaboration with ONGC across various parts of J&K.
Presenting an overview of departmental performance, Principal Secretary, Mining, Anil Kumar Singh, informed that so far 114 triggers have been generated through the IMSS, providing geo-spatial coordinates and satellite imagery of suspected illegal mining sites. Of these, 29 triggers were physically verified by field officers, confirming unauthorized mining activities at 16 locations.
He further apprised that all such alerts are simultaneously shared with the Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), and District Mineral Officers (DMOs) concerned for immediate verification and action. The IMSS portal, he added, is being integrated with the e-Challan and e-Market platforms to improve its operational efficiency.
In addition, the department is working to enhance the system with web-based vehicle tracking and on-spot e-challaning capabilities to further strengthen monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
On the operational front, the meeting was informed that J&K currently has 48 limestone blocks and 235 minor mineral blocks, out of which 207 have been leased out and 98 are operational, with an expected revenue realization of about Rs220 Cr.
It was further revealed that 79 blocks are awaiting Environmental Clearance (EC), while 30 are at the Consent to Operate (CTO) stage. Moreover, 132 blocks have been forwarded to respective Deputy Commissioners for issuance of NoCs under the Single Window System for e-auctioning.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed the ongoing exploration of key mineral resources including Lithium, Sapphire, Lignite, Granite, Dolomite, Graphite, and Gypsum across various districts.
To strengthen enforcement, the department has constituted multi-nodal Quick Response Teams (QRTs) under respective DMOs and established control rooms under the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) framework to ensure a robust and coordinated surveillance mechanism across all districts of J&K.