New Delhi: The Uttarakhand High Court has directed that all vehicles involved in mining operations must be equipped with GPS devices and integrated with the Ramanna Portal to enable real-time monitoring and data tracking. The observation was made during a hearing on damage caused to buildings and infrastructure due to soapstone mining in parts of Bageshwar district.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice G. Narendra and Justice Subhash Upadhyay was hearing a public interest litigation highlighting cracks in houses and other structures in several villages affected by mining activity. The court said GPS-based tracking would help authorities maintain transparency in mineral transportation and curb irregularities.
During the proceedings, the bench noted that integrating vehicle data with the Ramanna Portal would allow continuous surveillance of movement and timing. The court directed the state government to implement the tracking mechanism within one week and ensure strict compliance with existing mining regulations.
The observations followed the submission of a report by the Bageshwar District Mining Officer, which flagged serious discrepancies in transportation records. According to the findings, mining vehicles showed travel distances of around 55 kilometres being completed in 12 to 18 hours, a duration the court said was not practically feasible and indicated possible manipulation of records.
The case stems from grievances raised by residents of Kanda tehsil, who alleged that unchecked and illegal soapstone mining had caused extensive damage to agricultural land, residential buildings, and essential infrastructure such as water pipelines. Villagers claimed that repeated representations to local authorities failed to yield any relief, forcing them to approach the court.
Residents further stated that the environmental and structural damage had severely affected livelihoods in the area. Many families with financial means had reportedly migrated to towns such as Haldwani and other urban centres, leaving behind economically weaker residents in the affected villages. They alleged that continued mining activity threatens to make the region uninhabitable.
Taking note of the social and environmental impact, the High Court stressed the need for strict enforcement of mining rules and effective monitoring mechanisms. The matter has been listed for further hearing, with the court expected to review compliance with its directions and examine additional safeguards to address the concerns of affected villagers.
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