Chief Secretary Reviews Mining Department Functioning, Calls for Stronger Enforcement via IMSS
SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday chaired a detailed review meeting of the Mining Department, focusing on the implementation and effectiveness of the Integrated Mining Surveillance System (IMSS)—a technology-driven platform for real-time monitoring of mining operations across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary, Mining; Chairperson, Pollution Control Committee; Director, Geology & Mining; and other senior officials from concerned departments.
Dulloo stressed the need to leverage IMSS for ensuring transparency, accountability, and strict action against illegal mining. He directed officials to act promptly on every alert generated by the system and ensure follow-up on ground. He also emphasized fixing responsibility in each case and initiating legal proceedings against violators or negligent officers.
The Chief Secretary instructed that Deputy Commissioners be granted direct access to the IMSS platform for swift action within their jurisdictions. He asked the Mining Department to closely monitor field responses and submit regular performance reports to his office.
Appreciating the BISAG-N team for developing the IMSS, Dulloo commended the live demonstration that highlighted the system’s precision in detecting and addressing illegal mining.
While reviewing progress on identification and auction of mineral blocks, he urged the Pollution Control Committee to prepare a comprehensive clearance checklist to streamline procedures and avoid delays caused by piecemeal approvals.
The meeting also reviewed the exploration and operationalization of major and minor mineral blocks. Dulloo directed the department to expedite processes to boost revenue and also assessed progress on biogas exploration projects being carried out with ONGC in different parts of the Union Territory.
Principal Secretary (Mining) Anil Kumar Singh informed that 114 alerts have been generated through IMSS so far, pinpointing suspected illegal mining sites using satellite imagery and geo-spatial data. Of these, 29 sites were physically verified, confirming illegal mining at 16 locations.
He said that all alerts are simultaneously shared with Deputy Commissioners, SSPs, and District Mineral Officers for prompt verification and action. The IMSS portal is being integrated with e-Challan and e-Market platforms to enhance operational efficiency, with plans to add vehicle tracking and on-spot e-challaning features for stronger enforcement.
Currently, J&K has 48 limestone blocks and 235 minor mineral blocks, of which 207 have been leased and 98 are operational, generating an expected revenue of ₹220 crore.
Further, 79 blocks await Environmental Clearance, 30 are at the Consent to Operate stage, and 132 have been forwarded to DCs for NoC issuance under the Single Window e-Auction System.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed ongoing exploration of key minerals such as Lithium, Sapphire, Lignite, Granite, Dolomite, Graphite, and Gypsum across various districts.
To strengthen enforcement, the department has constituted Quick Response Teams (QRTs) under respective DMOs and established control rooms under the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) framework to ensure coordinated surveillance across all districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
