Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) has signed a memorandum of understanding today with the National Remote Sensing Centre to monitor the mining activities in the country. Initially two mines will be monitored in real time with the help of the NRSC data for six months. The two institutions have singed the MoU in Hyderabad today. Speaking on the occasion, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Mines, Subhash Chandra said the use of the technology for the socio-economic development is the need of the hour. <br/><br/>He said technology should be used responsibly to protect the national wealth. Stating that technology brings in transparency, the joint secretary said it will be effectively used to stop illegal mining. The IBM Controller General R K Sinha said initially two mines at Hospet in Karnataka and Jada in Odisha will be monitored for 6 months with the help of NRSC data. He also said two data centres at Nagpur and Hyderabad will be set up soon. The NRSC will also train IBM personnel in analyzing remote sensing data under the MoU. NRSC Director Dr V.K. Dadhwal was also present.