Rajasthan government has decided to deploy drones for the first time to monitor illegal mining operations across the state. This strategic decision, taken during a high-level review meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence, marks a crucial step toward sustainable resource management and better enforcement in one of India’s most mineral-rich states.
Officials confirmed that drones will be used to capture aerial footage and photographs of mining hotspots, enabling authorities to undertake prompt interventions and ensure real-time surveillance of vulnerable zones. The integration of drone technology comes as part of a broader framework to overhaul the monitoring of mining activities through a task force at the headquarters level. This interdepartmental team will coordinate surprise inspections involving the police, district administration, forest department, transport department, and the mining department. The focus is to dismantle unregulated mining networks that have long operated under bureaucratic loopholes and poor ground-level oversight. District collectors across Rajasthan have been directed to initiate swift action against violators, while daily reporting protocols and localised Special Investigation Teams (SITs) have been made mandatory to boost accountability.
Rajasthan’s mineral wealth, spanning across industrial and minor minerals, plays a critical role in both employment generation and revenue collection. Officials revealed that the mining sector currently contributes 3.4 percent to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and is projected to contribute 5 percent by 2029-30, and 8 percent by 2046-47. This ambitious growth trajectory aligns with the state’s target to triple its mining revenue from current levels and reach ₹1 lakh crore by 2046-47. The policy interventions come with fiscal recalibrations, including an increase in reserve prices and license fees for gap-area allocations from 10 times to 25 times, encouraging formalisation and transparency.
In a significant policy departure, the longstanding ‘Strip of Land’ provision has been abolished, removing a grey area often misused for backdoor mining approvals. Environmental accountability has also been emphasised, as lease approvals for short-term mining projects will now require prior environmental clearances. The government has moved to standardise performance security across all leases and incentivise participation from tribal populations by reducing bid security deposits from ₹10 lakh to ₹5 lakh. Further, to streamline processes, late fees have been imposed for delays in mine transfers, lease contracts, and mine surrender procedures. Mines found in breach of contract terms will face stringent measures, including lease cancellation and restrictions on revival.
While the policy overhaul may initially cause friction with certain stakeholders in the mining industry, the government’s proactive stance is a clear indication of its intent to curb environmental damage, plug revenue leakages, and ensure that mineral extraction becomes part of a larger, sustainable development narrative. The deployment of drones is not just a surveillance tool, but a symbol of modern governance meeting environmental responsibility. Whether this will decisively end the grip of illegal mining mafias remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly represents a turning point in Rajasthan’s approach to resource management.
