RANCHI | April 08, 2015: Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) will now be able to monitor two of its mining centers in the state with the help of a global positioning system (GPS). This technology will help curb rampant coal pilferage. The coal major, which posted a record growth of 11% in FY2014-15, will set up a satellite-based tracking system in two of its mining fields by April end.
The security mechanism called vehicle tracking system (VTS) has been devised following the coal ministry's directives to Coal India Limited (CIL) to curb coal pilferage using GPS in 2013. CIL had set a deadline for all its subsidiaries to install a GPS-based monitoring system by April 2014. "The mechanism is in its implementation stage. Hopefully, we will have it across all our command areas by October," said Gopal Singh, chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) of CCL.
CCL has collaborated with a multinational software company for a five-year contract to shape and maintain the system. CCL sources informed that Rs 36.19 crore has been spent to acquire this system. Officials said VTS will be installed at Piparwar and Khalari mines by April.
This system is deemed essential as CIL subsidiaries operating in the state have been incurring losses owing to coal pilferage. Truck operators and contractors are mainly responsible for pilferage by dumping coal in transit.
Coal-laden trains are the biggest target as the locals, who dwell along the tracks, vaccum the trains and steal the coal. In fact, coal pilferage robs the state exchequer of around Rs 600 crore each year.
The new system, CCL authorities claimed, will come with a two-tier monitoring layer. The first, based on radio frequency identification device (RFID) will check vehicles at the time of loading. "The weighing mechanism will be fool-proofed with RFID. A GPS tracker will be attached to the trucks while they leave the area and real-time data determining the vehicle's position along a pre-defined route will be monitored constantly," said an official associated with the development process of VTS. Control stations will be set up at all command areas with a head station in CCL headquarters.
According to the official, the driver will be sent an alert if he deviates from the normal route. "The weight will be checked upon arrival. Any wrongdoing will be spotted immediately," he said.
However, VTS is yet to address pilferage in coal-laden trains, which remains the easiest target.
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)