Chandigarh: Marking a major step towards technology-driven governance and streamlined management of mining operations in the state, Punjab Mines and Geology Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Monday launched the Punjab Mining Management System (PMMS) Portal at Punjab Bhawan here.
The Cabinet Minister said that the integrated digital platform will bring the entire mining ecosystem under a unified framework and facilitate end-to-end monitoring of mining activities, from the extraction of minerals at mining sites to their transportation, movement through check posts, processing at crusher units and delivery to consumers.
Barinder Kumar Goyal said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has adopted technology-based reforms and strengthened monitoring mechanisms to bring greater efficiency and accountability to the mining sector. He said that the state’s annual mining revenue has increased from around Rs.250 crore in the past to over Rs.825 crore.
He said that the PMMS Portal will replace fragmented and manual processes with a centralised digital system, enabling real-time access to information and ensuring seamless coordination among various stakeholders. The portal will also help reduce delays, improve record management and facilitate faster decision-making.
Highlighting the functioning of the mining module, the Mines and Geology Minister said that the digital system will cover the complete life cycle of mining operations, beginning with scientific planning under the District Survey Report (DSR). The process from submission of applications and obtaining environmental clearance to securing consent for operations will be managed through the online platform.
He said that all relevant records pertaining to a mining site, from the commencement of operations to its closure, will remain digitally available. The system will also provide real-time information regarding operational and non-operational mining sites and the permissible quantity of minerals available for extraction.
The Cabinet Minister said that the PMMS Portal will promote transparency by providing digital access to various stages of the mining process, including applications, technical assessments and agreements. The digital trail created through the platform will strengthen accountability and help build public confidence in the system.
Barinder Kumar Goyal further said that smart inter-state check posts equipped with FASTag, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology will facilitate automated verification and monitoring of mineral-laden vehicles entering Punjab from neighbouring states.
He said that the integration of these technologies will enable automatic fee collection and prompt verification of digital weighment slips while reducing manual intervention and improving the accuracy of monitoring.
The Cabinet Minister said that crusher units have also been integrated into the digital ecosystem. Smart electricity meters installed at crusher units will be linked with Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to facilitate the assessment of production in accordance with electricity consumption. This will help curb under-reporting and ensure greater accountability in mineral processing.
He said that crusher owners will be able to monitor their raw material stock, maintain records of finished products and file monthly returns through the live dashboard. The digital platform will simplify compliance requirements and improve coordination between the government and the mining industry.
Barinder Kumar Goyal said that the portal will also streamline the process for obtaining short-term permits. Applications for K-Permits for brick kilns, K-1 permits for road construction and K-2 permits for basement excavation can be processed through the online dashboard, reducing paperwork and eliminating the need for repeated visits to government offices.
The Cabinet Minister said that mining machinery and vehicles will be integrated with the VAHAN Portal. This will ensure that only authorised and duly verified vehicles are permitted to transport minerals and will help prevent unauthorised transportation.
Highlighting the financial component of the system, Barinder Kumar Goyal said that the PMMS Portal has been linked with the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) through a secure digital payment gateway. Payments towards royalty, fees and penalties will be transferred directly to the appropriate government accounts in real time.
He said that the single-window payment facility, automated reconciliation and live financial dashboards will simplify transactions, minimise errors and facilitate efficient auditing and monitoring.
The Mines and Geology Minister said that the Mining Management System Portal is a significant initiative towards establishing a transparent, accountable and technology-enabled mining ecosystem in Punjab. The portal will strengthen regulatory oversight, improve service delivery and support the sustainable management of the state’s mineral resources.
He said that the NIC-developed integrated PMMS Portal will be rolled out in two phases. Phase-I, launched today, covers key mining-related modules and will process all new applications through the new digital platform, while ongoing cases will be migrated through legacy data integration. Phase-II, comprising the Crusher and Interstate Modules, will be launched on August 20, completing the digitisation of the Department’s core regulatory and service delivery functions.
Goyal also thanked the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and the Department’s team for developing such an integrated portal. Prominent amongst others who were present included Additional Chief Secretary (Mining) Mrs. Jaspreet Talwar, Director (Mining) Mr. B. Srinivasan, Chief Engineer (Mining) S. Hardeep Singh Mendiratta, Vivek Verma, Deputy Director General/State Informatics Officer from NIC, Anil Kumar Dogra, Senior Director (IT), Devendra Kumar Singh, Joint Director(IT) and Lokesh Dwivedi, Joint Director (IT) and other senior officers of the Mines and Geology Department.
