Tamil Nadu launches digital monitoring system to curb illegal mining and increase revenue

The Tamil Nadu government is introducing an integrated digital monitoring platform for the state's Natural Resources Department. The system will link a digital weighbridge to an online portal that records every load of minerals extracted, aiming to curb illegal mining and raise mining‑related revenue from roughly Rs 4 500 crore to between Rs 6 500 crore and Rs 9 000 crore in the coming years. The initiative follows recent inspections that shut down 67 stone quarries and uncovered violations in 155 of 431 inspected sites, with penalties totalling Rs 78 crore imposed under the Minor Mineral Concession Rules.

In parallel, the state has created a Rs 50 crore revolving fund for disaster preparedness, rescue, relief and rehabilitation, managed by the Tamil Nadu Disaster Risk Reduction Agency. A new Tamil Nadu State Institute of Disaster Management, costing Rs 55 crore, will serve as the hub for training, research and policy support. Over 6 000 volunteer responders have been trained, and MoUs have been signed with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water to bolster heat‑risk and urban‑meteorology capabilities.