The Uttarakhand High Court directed that all vehicles involved in mining operations must be equipped with GPS devices to enable real-time tracking and data collection. The order emerged during a hearing on a public interest litigation addressing severe structural cracks in homes caused by extensive soapstone excavation in multiple villages of Bageshwar district.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G Narendra and Justice Subhash Upadhyay emphasised that these vehicles should also be integrated with the Ramanna Portal for centralized monitoring of movement and compliance. The court reviewed a report from the Bageshwar District Mining Officer highlighting significant irregularities in mineral transportation records.

The submitted report revealed implausible entries, such as vehicles claiming to cover 55 kilometres in 12 to 18 hours, indicating potential falsification to conceal illegal activities. Expressing concern over such discrepancies, the bench mandated strict enforcement of existing rules within one week, tasking state authorities with ensuring full compliance.

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The litigation originated from a letter petition by residents of Kanda tehsil, who detailed widespread damage to agriculture, residential structures, and water infrastructure due to unregulated soapstone mining. Villagers reported that affluent families had relocated to areas like Haldwani, leaving primarily impoverished households to bear the ongoing threats to livelihoods and safety.

Despite prior representations to government officials yielding no resolution, the court's intervention aims to address these grievances through enhanced oversight mechanisms. The matter has been posted for further hearing on the following day to monitor progress on the directives.

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