Jammu and Kashmir: GPS mandatory for vehicles transporting minerals, instructions issued:

News Topical, Digital Desk : In a major move to curb illegal mining and transportation of mineral resources by the mining mafia, the J&K government has mandated the installation and monitoring of GPS devices for all vehicles transporting minerals in the J&K UT. However, no formal timeline for installation of the devices has been issued with the order.

The directive issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Directorate of Geology and Mining mandates the installation of GPS devices on all vehicles engaged in mineral transportation and extraction across the Union Territory. This directive is in accordance with guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for rigorous, technology-based monitoring of sand and minor mineral movement.

Real time monitoring can be done through GPS

Sources said that installing vehicle tracking devices in mineral transport vehicles will enable online and real-time tracking of their movement and this can be effectively implemented through a web-based vehicle tracking application solution, which is also proposed to be developed and deployed.

Where will vehicle owners get the device?

He further said, “It will be made mandatory to install vehicle tracking devices on all trucks used for transportation of minerals across the Union Territory and the vehicle owners will have to purchase these devices from vendors empanelled with the department.”

According to the order, all mineral concessionaires must ensure that no material is transported without GPS-enabled vehicles registered with the Directorate of Geology and Mining. Each vehicle must have a valid RFID number and a QR-coded invoice or watermark generated from the department's online portal.

What did the government say?

The government stated that the system aims to enforce end-use accountability, prevent illegal extraction, and prevent unauthorized transport of minerals. The order also refers to earlier directives from the National Highway Authority of India, which mandated the installation of tracking devices on vehicles used for mineral transport.

Action will be taken against those who do not follow the rules

The order further mandates the installation of QR coding, RFID tagging, ANPR cameras on gantries, and integrated e-check gates for seamless monitoring. Vehicles that fail to comply will face strict action, including penalties and confiscation, as the administration continues its crackdown on illegal mining.

Officials said the technological measures would strengthen the regulation of mining activity and bring Jammu and Kashmir in line with national enforcement standards. They said the move was aimed at curbing illegal mining and ensuring accountability.