45 e-check gates set up across four districts to curb illegal mining

Dehradun: With mineral extraction from the state's rivers currently restricted due to the monsoon season, the mining department is now turning its focus to activities once the rains subside. Having already exceeded its targeted revenue by a wide margin in the last financial year, the department is preparing to push toward a fresh record.

Mineral extraction from rivers across the state remains limited at present because of the monsoon. Once the rains end, mining activities are set to resume in full swing as the state aims to build on its revenue record. Uttarakhand had earlier achieved its highest-ever mining revenue of ₹1,217 crore in the 2025-26 financial year.

Against a target of 950 crore set by the state government for FY 2025-26, actual revenue collected stood at 1,217 crore. This included 1,130 crore deposited in the treasury, 80 crore in the District Mineral Foundation Trust, and 7 crore under the State Mineral Exploration Trust (SMET). In FY 2024-25, the department had earned ₹1,041 crore in revenue against a target of 875 crore. According to mining department data, the state has seen substantial growth in mining revenue over the past 4.5 years — rising from around 110 crore in 2012-13 to 1,217 crore in 2025-26.

The state government has introduced a series of policy and technological changes aimed at making the mining system more transparent. Along with simplifying the mineral policy and regulations, emphasis has been placed on promoting legal mining while tightening surveillance over illegal mining, transportation and storage. A Mining Digital Transformation and Surveillance System has been implemented to monitor the mining process, under which 45 e-check gates have been set up across Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital. These gates use technologies such as ANPR cameras and RFID for vehicle monitoring.

The reforms undertaken in the mining sector have brought national recognition to Uttarakhand. At a ceremony held in New Delhi on March 28, 2026, the state's MDTSS (Mining Digital Transformation and Surveillance System) and e-Khanan Security Paper projects were honoured with the Scotch Award (Gold). Uttarakhand also secured second position among "C" category states under the Ministry of Mines' Minor Mineral Reform category, earning the state an incentive of 100 crore. An additional incentive of 100 crore was received based on its performance in the State Mining Readiness Index.