CM Chairs Natural Resources Department Review, Orders Drone Monitoring of Quarry Boundaries

Review Meeting Chaired by Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru C. Joseph Vijay on the Functioning of the Natural Resources Department A review meeting on the functioning of the Natural Resources Department, chaired by Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru C. Joseph Vijay, was held today (4.6.2026) at the Secretariat. At this meeting, with a view to making Tamil Nadu a pioneering state in mineral resource management, it was explained that the Geology and Mining Department would carry out scientific assessment of mineral resources and extract minerals in a manner favourable to the environment and the public, and that, to monitor quarries granted on mineral lease, the boundaries of leased areas would be demarcated and drone-based surveying would be used to accurately determine the quantity of minerals extracted from the leased area. Further, discussions were held on the use of modern technology to prevent illegal transportation of minerals. Various methods to increase mineral revenue were also discussed. The Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu instructed that necessary measures be taken to ensure the systematic and sustainable utilisation of mineral resources, to improve mineral revenue, and to prevent illegal transportation of minerals. Hon'ble Minister for Rural Development and Water Resources Thiru N. Anand, Hon'ble Minister for Natural Resources Dr. T.K. Prabhu, Hon'ble Minister for Finance, Planning and Development Thiru Chandra Mariya Wilson, Chief Secretary Dr. Mu. Vaikumar, I.A.S., Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, Thiru M.A. Siddique, I.A.S., Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department, Thiru Satyapratha Bagu, I.A.S., Principal Secretary (Full Additional Charge), Natural Resources Department, Thiru Sunnongam Jadeshiru, I.A.S., Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Minerals Ltd., Thiru A. Varavanavelraj, I.A.S., Director of Geology and Mining Thiru T. Mohan, I.A.S., and other senior government officials attended this meeting. Issued By: Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9