HC seeks report on use of drones for monitoring mining ops

Observing that use of technology such as drones would help in detection of illegal mining among others, the Madras High Court today directed the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government to take a decision on deploying them to monitor mining and quarrying and allied activities in the state.
The first bench comprising Chief Justice S K Kaul and Justice M Sundar gave the direction while disposing of a PIL by advocate VBR Menon who sought the use of drones to check illegal mining and deforestation activities.
It directed the governments to file a compliance report in two months.
The petitioner submitted that the usage of aerial surveys and drones have grown manifold in mining, quarrying and other allied activities around the world including several states in the country in order to obtain better control and monitoring of mining and quarrying operations.

The UnionMinistry of Mines had already advised all the states to explore the usage of drones to check illegal mining of minerals and metals through a notification issued on November 1, 2015, he claimed.
It was also being used to monitor and prevent deforestation and indiscriminate quarrying of sand, granite and other minerals, he said.
Recording the submissions, the bench said, "We are in agreement with the submission of the petitioner, appearing in person, especially in view of the large number of cases pending in the court itself about alleged illegal mining. This would facilitate detection and transparency and consequently, save the valuable time of the court."

"We thus direct that a decision as to when the technology can be introduced, be taken (under the TN Minor Mineral Concession rules, 1959), and a compliance report by the government be filed within two months," it said.