Mandatory GPS for mineral carrying vehicles comes into effect in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to bring transparency in mining, Odisha government has made installation of Global Positioning System (GPS) mandatory for all trucks involved in transporting of minerals from today onwards.

Steel & Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick informed that no vehicles in Odisha can transport minerals without GPS from today.

At present, 32,000 trucks are engaged in the transportation of minerals and GPS tracking devices have already been installed in 24,000 vehicles.

“Directions have been issued to install GPS in remaining 8,000 trucks at the earliest,” said Mallick.

With technical assistance from Odisha Space Application Centre (ORSAC), a close vigil can be kept on the trucks all throughout the loading and unloading process.

Earlier, the state government at the State Level Task Force meeting had cleared the proposal of GPS installation in vehicles engaged in the transportation of minerals from several mines in Odisha.

Official sources said, already the government has began constant satellite surveillance of mining and transportation of mineral activities.