Karnataka to build geo database for mapping mineral zones

Based on GIS application system, the department of mines and geology has so far digitised 4,500 mining leases in Karnataka

 

The Karnataka government has embarked on a project to build a geo database on GIS application for mapping mineralised zones and developing mineral atlas and data on existing leases, which will be helpful in processing the mining applications online.

The department of mines and geology has undertaken this project. Up to the end of October 2012, the department had completed digitisation of 4,500 leases for various minerals in the state, the government said in the Economic Survey of Karnataka for 2012-13.

The main objective of the project is to delineate the mineral belts on various potential zones in the state by adopting remote sensing techniques marking the free hold areas for the benefit of the entrepreneurs, the Survey, which was tabled in the Assembly last week, said.

The data will be fetched to the department website. The existing data displayed on the website will be utilised by industries for filing of online application for mining lease from elsewhere.

According to the directions of the ministry of mines, the department has undertaken a project on online Mining Tenement Registry on a pilot basis in Bellary district. Under this programme, all the village maps/khasra map numbering 599 have been digitised. The work will be extended to Gulbarga district.

The information pertaining to mining lease application and lease details will be incorporated on these cadastral maps using the GIS technology. Further, a data centre and server will be established in the Directorate, Bangalore.

Under this programme, digitisation of maps and other geological data would be undertaken and cadastral maps, computers, related software and other infrastructure would be procured.

The department also intends to use advanced equipment such as GPS mounted magnetometer and high-end computers with software for proving the exploration data. It is also proposed to establish mobile squads and to procure RFID and GPS instruments to curb illegal transportation of minerals.

The department has also established integrated check posts involving forest, police, transport, commercial tax and PWD. “It has been intended to computerise these composite check posts including already working 15 important check posts of the department,” the survey said.

Construction of two modern check posts have been completed at Malappanahatti (Chitradurga district), Chowdlapura (Tumkur district) and further construction work on four check posts such as D B Kere in Chitradurga district, Bannihatti, Metriki, Kallahally in Bellary district is under progress. The department has fixed the tentative target to bring up four new check posts such as Mukka in Dakshina Kannada district, Badri and Ubbalgundi in Bellary district, Satyagala in Chamarajanagar during 2013-14.