Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal : Punjab will no longer tolerate illegal mining
Under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar in the presence of Mining and Geology Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal. This agreement aims to establish a Centre of Excellence for Mining and Geology in Punjab.
Announcing this initiative, Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal stated that the Centre of Excellence will play a key role in enhancing the scientific assessment and monitoring of mining activities in the state. He explained that by leveraging advanced technologies such as SONAR and LiDAR, the center will help in precisely measuring minor mineral quantities and conducting surveys before and after mining operations. It will also facilitate pre- and post-monsoon assessments of riverbeds and mining sites.
Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal highlighted that Punjab has become the first state in India to implement a Digital Mining Management System. The newly established center in Ropar will ensure transparent and scientific evaluation of mineral resources, boosting government revenue. He emphasized that these technological advancements will help curb illegal mining and prevent financial losses, making Punjab’s mining sector more organized and sustainable. Additionally, the center will prepare district survey reports and mining plans, improving overall efficiency in the sector. This MoU will remain in effect for five years.
Describing the significance of the day, Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal emphasized that to combat illegal mining, the government will employ satellite, drone, and ground surveys. He further stated that the system will operate entirely online, ensuring daily data updates and accountability among officials. The gathered data will track both legal and illegal sand extraction while also monitoring sand deposits in dams before and after the monsoon season.
With this system in place, the exact number of operational legal and illegal mining sites will be identified. The center’s data will help in managing river sand deposits before the monsoon, supporting flood prevention measures. The system will measure subsurface sand and gravel deposits every 20 meters, helping protect villages from flooding.
Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal noted that rivers and dams that once contributed to flooding will now serve as valuable resources for Punjab. This initiative will safeguard farmers’ lands from flood damage, providing significant relief to the agricultural sector. Furthermore, it will eliminate contractor exploitation and corruption, ensuring a fair and transparent system.
Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal also issued strict instructions to officials, urging them to ensure that these measures go beyond paperwork. Officers have been directed to conduct regular field visits, hold consistent meetings, and manage the mining sector with complete integrity and transparency.
“This agreement marks a major step in addressing past mismanagement and ensuring that people receive sand at fair and reasonable prices,” Minister Goyal stated. The digital system will improve efficiency, enhance transparency in site assessments, and enable real-time monitoring while adhering to environmental regulations.
The event was attended by prominent officials, including Secretary of Geology Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Chief Engineer of Drainage and Mining Dr. Harinder Pal Singh Bedi, district mining officers, IIT Ropar Dean Sarang Gumfekar, and Professor Dr. Reet Kamal Tiwari.