Odisha implements software in Mineral Management
Bhubaneswar, Dec 29: Odisha has added another feather to its cap by setting a model IT application for tracking of mineral production, dispatch and value accrued on real time basis through its i3MS website.
This has been mentioned in the departmental review meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Sri Aditya Prasad Padhi in secretariat conference hall on Monday wherein Principal Secretary Steel & Mines Sri Raj Kumar Sharma presented the updates and outlined the issues for discussion. Sri Sharma mentioned that i3MS software developed and implemented in Odisha has proved very useful in monitoring of production, dispatch and transportation of minerals in the State on real time basis.
Government of India has applauded its outcomes and have recommended the model to be followed in other States. Reviewing the progress, Chief Secretary Sri Padhi directed the department to scale up mineral production in coming months through close monitoring and appropriate action plan.
Replying to a media query after the meeting, the Director, Mines Sri Deepak Mohanty said that in our State we have put in place a 24 x7 online system called Integrated Mines & Mineral Management System (i3MS). All relevant Central and State mining rules have been customized in to this software.
The software tracks end to end mineral transaction i.e. quantum of minerals produced, transported and received by the industries. All the stakeholders like lessees’, dealers and Govt departments have been brought on this portal. It has also been integrated with RTO, Indian Railways, Commercial Tax, Ports and Treasury.
The daily production and dispatch is recorded on real time basis through this web based software. All the mineral transporting trucks have been put under GPS surveillance and the roads as well as mines have been geo-referenced. Sri Mohanty also told that this has curtailed illegal mining in the State.
Till now 392 electronic weigh bridges in 136 mines and 699 weigh bridges in 325 industries have been approved on line through this portal. Similarly, 2,71,347 e-permits and 6312 number of dealer licenses have been also granted through it. Around 2.4 cr trip sheets (transit pass for trucks) have been generated online through this system. This web site has now been customized for a mobile application providing the facility for tracking of minerals through mobile app.
It may be pertinent here to mention that Odisha is the first State to have such a consolidated and robust IT application in mineral management. This has been highly appreciated in the Central Coordination and Empowered Committee meeting held on 15th December, 2015 at Delhi. Govt of India has advised other states to follow this model. The Indian Bureau of Mines will now adopt it under Mineral Conservation & Development Rules of 1988.