Odisha government makes GPS mandatory for vehicles carrying minerals

Global Positioning System (GPS) was made mandatory for all vehicles transporting minerals, by the Odisha government. The action was taken in order to bring transparency in the mining sector.

"We had set April 30 as the deadline for the transporters to install GPS in vehicles carrying minerals. From today, no vehicle will be allowed to carryminerals without having GPS facility," said Odisha's steel and mines minister Prafulla Mallick.

The minister said, of the total 32,400 trucks and tippers engaged in the transportation of minerals, about24,000 vehicles have already installed the GPS facility.

According to the minister, a total of 32,400 trucks and tippers engaged in the transportation of minerals and out of them about 24,000 vehicles have already installed the GPS facility.

Mallick told that directions have been given to remaining 8,000 trucks to install GPS at the earliest.

He said with GPS installed on the vehicles carrying minerals, the entire process could be monitored with technical assistance from Odisha Space Application Centre (ORSAC).

The government has already begun constant satellite surveillance of mining and transportation of mineral activities in the state, sources told.

(With PTI inputs)