Satellites, drones to monitor small mines, quarries: Min

Chennai: Services of satellites and drones will be enlisted to monitor any illegal activity in small mines and  quarries, Law minister C.V. Shanmugam announced this in Tamil Nadu Assembly today.

Replying to the debate on demands for grants for mines, he said now the big mines were being watched through satellites within a radius of 500 meters with the help of ‘BISAG’ organisation of Ahmadabad.

“We can know the illegal activities in the small  mines, and quarries immediately through these signals and government can take action,” he warned.

He also said that mines and quarries will be monitored additionally  by drones at a cost of Rs 50 lakh. For this an MoU has been signed with Anna University. Posts of one joint  director and one additional director  will be created in the mines department for the purpose, he added.

 Replying to the debate on the demands for grants for the Industries department, minister M.C. Sampath told said for the benefit of  Cuddalore Sipcot  complex industries, one water desalination plant will be installed with a capacity of 20 MLD. A detailed project report will be prepared for this at a cost of `1.75 crore. The Sipcot industrial estates’ infrastructure will be developed at a cost of Rs 20 crore every year, he disclosed.

 Stating that Sipcot complexes will be developed as eco-industrial estates, he said a detailed project will be prepared at a cost of Rs 20 crore. A Sipcot Services Enterprise Resource Planning unit will be created with an outlay of Rs 1.50 Crore. To encourage the Aerospace and Defence equipment manufacture, a start-up hub will be set up in Tidel Park in

Chennai with an investment of Rs 4.65 crore, the minister added. A Sidco industrial estate will be developed at Melur near Madurai with an outlay of Rs 18.80 crore on a 30-acred spread, announced Rural Industries minister,

P. Benjamin, in his reply to the debate on the demands for grants for his department in the House.