Coimbatore, Oct 13:
Coimbatore district has emerged as the leading district in Tamil Nadu in the installation of Global Positioning System (GPS) devices on trucks transporting mineral resources, with equipment fitted on 4,200 of the approximately 7,000 trucks operating in the district.
The installation drive is part of the State governmentâs efforts to monitor the movement of mineral resources and curb illegal transportation. Coimbatoreâs location along the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border makes the district a significant transit point for trucks carrying stone aggregates, gravel, red soil and other mineral materials to neighbouring Kerala.
There are 13 check-posts along the Coimbatore-Kerala border, and authorities have been taking measures to prevent the illegal movement of minerals through the region. Officials from the Department of Geology and Mining, the Revenue Department and the police have been coordinating enforcement measures to check unauthorised transportation.
The State government has directed that GPS devices be installed on trucks carrying mineral resources across Tamil Nadu. The system is intended to help officials track vehicle movements, monitor transportation routes and identify possible violations during the movement of mineral loads.
The government has also set October 31 as the deadline for installing the devices, warning that action would be taken against vehicles that fail to comply with the requirement. Authorities in Coimbatore are therefore stepping up efforts to ensure that the remaining trucks are brought under the monitoring system before the deadline.
Of the nearly 7,000 trucks transporting minerals in Coimbatore district, 4,200 have so far been fitted with GPS devices. This puts the district ahead of others in terms of the number of installations completed, according to the report.
The progress is notable when compared with districts where the number of mineral transport trucks is higher but installations remain limited. Some districts have as many as 12,000 trucks carrying mineral resources, yet only around 2,000 vehicles have been fitted with the devices.
District officials said discussions had been held with owners of trucks transporting materials such as stone aggregates and red soil to accelerate the installation process. Truck owners have been advised to complete the work within the stipulated period, and the remaining vehicles are expected to be covered by the end of October.
GPS monitoring is expected to strengthen oversight of mineral transportation by helping authorities check whether vehicles follow authorised routes and comply with transport requirements. It could also support enforcement against illegal mining and the movement of mineral resources without the necessary permissions.
The extent to which the system curbs illegal transportation will depend on effective monitoring, timely action on violations and coordination among the departments concerned. With the October 31 deadline approaching, the immediate priority for district officials is to ensure that all eligible trucks are fitted with the devices.