Curb illegal mining, says Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar

Amaravati: Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar directed mines and geology department officials to use advanced technology to control illegal transportation of sand and minerals.

Addressing a review meeting at the Secretariat on Monday, Dinesh Kumar said GPS equipment can be fitted to the vehicles transporting the minerals and private companies should be monitored to prevent them from using barites other purposes than manufacturing cement.

He said the department could use the services of IT professionals to improve the use of technology in the department and consider the proposal of using drones for strict vigilance on mining.

The Chief Secretary said the department should formulate a mining policy which helps to increase income. He also instructed to act tough against those persons involved in illegal transportation of sand and take action if there were any complaints on collection of exorbitant charges for sand. He further directed that the department must bring the complaints on illegal sand mining to his notice every week.