Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government is preparing a major overhaul of the Natural Resources Department by introducing a comprehensive digital monitoring system aimed at curbing illegal mining, improving transparency and significantly increasing revenue from the mining sector over the next few years. The initiative, which was reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay earlier this week, is expected to bring all mineral extraction activities under an integrated online monitoring platform. Last month, operations at 67 stone quarries in Tenkasi, Kanniyakumari, Virudhunagar and Madurai districts were suspended after inspections revealed illegal mining, including extraction beyond approved lease boundaries. So far, penalties totalling Rs 78 crore have been imposed under the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1959. The government had earned Rs 433 crore during 2024-25 from lease concessions granted for major minerals such as limestone, lignite, marl, graphite, magnesite and atomic minerals.