mining industry in india - growth vs environment

7/31/2019 Mining Industry in India - Growth vs Environment

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Environmental Management Project

Mining Industry In India

Environmental vs Growth perspective

Submitted By:

1) Amrit Modi (10DCP-002)2) Anurag Tanwar (10DCP-005)3) Prateek Kumar (10DCP-025)4) Rishi Dewan (10DCP-027)5) Varun Arora (10DCP-044)6) Vijyant Dalal (10 DCP-047)


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Introduction:

Degradation of natural ecosystem during mining activity is unavoidable. Land, energy, water,

air, space, is the basic elements of life system and if any one of them is stretched beyond

tolerable limit it leads to pollution.

Development of mines consists of:

Conducting a feasibility study. Conducting financial analysis whether to abandon or develop the property. Designing the mine. Acquiring the mining rights. Filling up of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Preparing the site for production and excavation of deposits to remove surface

material above ore deposit).

Extraction of Ore- surface mining, underground mining, and In situ mining. Separation of ore from other materials: Floatation, gravity, magnetism etc. Purification.

The production of large amount of waste material and particular emission has led to major

environmental and health concerns with ore extraction ad concentration. In recent days, many

hue and cry is made in the mining prone regions with growing awareness of environmental

impact due to carelessness and unsystematic mining activities.

Pollution In mining:

Air: Methods of mining affect air quality. Particulate matter is released duringmining; it also leads to removal of vegetation leaving the soil loose ad exposed to

weathering. This particulate matter can consists of noxious material such as arsenic,

cadmium, lead etc.

Land: It can cause physical disturbances to landscapes, creating eyesores such aswaste rock piles and open pits. It can lead to decline of wildlife and plantation in the

region. It also leads to weakening of the surface which can cause Mine subsidence

causing damage to life and property.

Water: Water pollution problems caused due to mining include acid mine drainage,metal contamination, and increased sediment level in the streams. Sediments,


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typically from increased soil erosion, cause siltation or the smothering of stream beds

which affects fisheries, irrigation, domestic water supplies etc.

Acid mine Drainage: AMD is a potentially severe pollution hazards that contaminatesurrounding soil, ground water, and surface water. The formation of AMD is a

function of geology, hydrology and mining technology employed at the mining site.

Primary sources of acid generation are sulphides which decompose in air and water.

Socio- Economic conditions: Mining is a temporary land use hence progressiverehabilitation practices should be used to enable the land to return to productive use as

soon as possible after mining. Apart from the pollution caused to the environment it

leads to the degradation of the socio economic condition of the people hence a social

impact assessment is a crucial part in environment management planning.

Fig: Mining Processes, Wastes and related Environmental Concerns ad issues.


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Objectives:

The primary objectives of the report can be summarized as below:

i)

To study in detail the mining industry in India.ii) To analyze the pros and cons of the mining industry from an economic and

ecological perspective.

iii) To study/analyze in detail the steps taken by the Government of India to balancethe economical and ecological trade off of the industry.

In Scope:

General study of the mining industry with the aid of secondary data only.

Out of Scope:

Study/analysis of any primary data of the mining industry and any mining company.

Methodology

The main methodology for this report was the secondary research. Various articles from the

internet/books/journals/reports were studied and analyzed. The brief flow of the methodology

can be depicted as below:

Study through

Secondary

Sources

Filtering of

relevant

information

Analysis of the

gathered

information

High Level

interpretation

of the analysis

Report

Compilation of

the study


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Results and analysis:

Mining Sector in India:

India has huge mineral resources. Thus the mining industry becomes very important industry

in India. It opened to foreign investment only 1990. Flow of foreign investment has been

relatively low in the sector due the restrictions imposed. It faces several challenges.

Massive investment required in exploration and up gradation of technology. Mitigation of environmental degradation due to mining. Adaptation of environmental friendly mining. Tackling of social issues. Like displacement of population, marginalisation of local

communities and economic disparities in mining areas.

Rehabilitation of closed and abandoned mine sites.

Mineral Production in India:

Mining contributes about 2% of Indias GDP, employs more than a 1 million people and a

considerable share of the total exports by the country.

India is the 3rd

largest producer of coal, 4th

largest of iron ore and 6th

largest producer of

Bauxite worldwide.

Mineral Thousand tones

1970 1990 1999 2010

Iron Ore 16600 55600 70700 218640

Bauxite 1400 5000 6400 16000

Coal 73700 211600 293600 557000

Table: Production of minerals in India; Source: TERI


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Mining vs Environment:

Stake holders related to Mining:

Supporters

Mining Lobbyists

Politicians

Investors

Mining Companies

Politicians

Opposition

Civilians

Environmentalist

Politicians

MINERAL RESOURCES IN INDIA

FIG: Mineral Production in India: Geographical Distribution


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Environmental Impacts Unique to each Mine Type:

Open Pit Mining: It is a method of extracting rock or minerals from the earth by theirremoval from an open pit. Quarrying is a type of open-pit mine that extracts minerals for

making buildings. Open pit mines have adverse environmental effect. The removal of

huge chunks of land creates craters causing ecological misbalance affecting humans, flora

and fauna. Also, when the mine is no longer in operation, the area can no longer be used

for anything else.

Deep-sea Mining: This type of mining involves extraction of minerals from the seabed.Dredging is the most commonly used method in deep-sea mining. A dredge [excavator]

is used to scrape the minerals off the seabed. Dredging can easily disturb aquatic

ecosystems, throwing the whole thing out of balance. Toxic elements are released from

the sediments into the water.

Strip Mining: The main environmental effects unique to coal mining are the methanegasses released (causing a greenhouse effect), the effects on water, and the dust produced.

Strip mining, most commonly used to mine coal, drastically alters the landscape. In

regards to safety, subsurface coal mines are known as some of the most dangerous mines

to work in, with a high fatality rate.

Mountaintop Removal Mining: This type of mining procedure involves clear-cuttingthe target area of all forest, then making liberal use of explosives to remove a maximum

of 1000 vertical feet of mountain, minerals are excavated with a dragline excavator,

Opposition:

Environmentalists: Peopleconcerned for the preservation,restoration and conservation of natural

resources.

Civilians: People affected socially,economically and biologically by

mining.

Politicians: Politicians opposing theprocess due to concern for the people,

environment or self benefits.

Supporters:

Companies: Involved in process forprofit and growth (Self and economy)

Lobbyists: Hired by companies to lobbysupport by holding meetings, lectures etc

Politicians: Driven by economics andgrowth

Investors: Profit motive Mine Workers: People employed under

the sector who earn their livelihood.


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which is basically a giant shovel attached to a giant crane. All that waste rock is then

shoveled into adjacent valleys. It disturbs the ecological balance of the surrounding areas.

Artisanal Mining (including in situ mining): Artisanal mining is terrible for the land,water, and peoples health. Toxic substances such as mercury and cyanide are used to

extract gold from the land. This type of mining has a huge impact on the land. Trenches

are made which change and scar the landscape permanently

Cases:

218 Coal Mines violating EIA Notification in 2006: 218 mines of coal India Ltd. wereoperating in violation of the Environmental Impact Assessment in 2006. These were pre

1994 mines when EIA was not in place. These mines never applied or clearance and were

operating on a renewal of lease basis. When found out these mines applied for

Environmental clearances.

Forest Land Diverted to mining:Forest Land diversion in states

States %age of forest land diverted for mining

Andhra Pradesh 14.2

Chhattisgarh 15.2

Gujarat 10.2Jharkhand 9.5

Madhya Pradesh 10.6

Orissa 16.4

In January 2010, the MoEF declared that since the enactment of forest conservation act,

in 1980, a total of 1309 cases have been approved for forest diversion under various

categories of mining which amounts to 100,871 hectares lost.

Underground Mine Fires: Jharia in Jharkhand produces the best coking coal in India,but the area mostly inhabited by travelers is smoldering with underground fire for

decades. This emits huge amount of Carbon Monoxide, Sulphur dioxide and methane

which leads to breathing problems, air pollution and skin diseases.

Silicosis in Rajasthan: In Rajasthan mining is second only to agriculture, manymineworkers labor in the same awful conditions as their predecessors did decades ago,

and earn only a pitiful amount, around Rs.40 daily. Their exposure to occupational

hazards such as respiratory ailments remains very high, and ailments such as asthma,

Table: Forest land diverted to mining, 2005


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tuberculosis and silicosis are common. Silicosis is the most fatal of these, and one of the

main causes of deaths among mineworkers in Rajasthan.

Mining away the river: The Bharathapuzha river which used to be the lifeline of manyvillages is barely a trickle in the summer months. In most parts, the 209-km long river is

covered with shrubs and weeds, and looks more like an unkempt ground than a water

body. Its destruction has been rapid and steady. Over the past decade, unregulated sand

mining has all but devoured the riverbed, even as deforestation shrunk the river's

catchment areas. There is still no concerted movement to regulate sand mining. And as

trucks race to the middle of the riverbed to collect sand, a bit of the river dies every day.

Death in landslides: Mining leads to weakening of the land structure of the region, 3workers were killed supposedly due to negligence of the mining company in Cudegal.

Water Pollution: Monnet Ispats underground coal mine has led to severe waterpollution of the river Kelo disrupting the water life and causing hazards for the

people.The Kelo is not just the lifeline for those who live in and around Khamaria. It is

very important drinking water source for all of Raigarh district, and also a critical

tributary of the river Mahanadi. The river is already facing impacts of pollution at points

closer to Raigarh city where a lot of the industrial effluent is visible

Post Closure effects: Roro Hills in Jharkhand, which once were mined for chromium andasbestos is proving a health hazard for people decade after it is closed causing TB and

other diseases. The region still 0.7 million toxic wastes and iron scraps which were never

disposed.


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Mining: A necessity

For a country like India Mining industry is a necessity. The advance estimates of GDP (at

2004-05 prices) for the year 2010-11 in respect of mining and quarrying sector accounted for

about 2.26% of GDP. The contribution of mining and quarrying sector to GDP for the year

2010-11 is estimated at Rs. 110,482 crore which would indicate an increase of 6.2% over that

in the previous year. Similarly, the advance estimates of GDP (at current prices) for the year

2010-11 in respect of mining and quarrying sector accounted for about 2.51% of GDP. The

contribution of mining and quarrying sector to GDP for the year 2010-11 is estimated at Rs.

182,278 crore which would indicate an increase of 18.2% over that in the previous year.

Scope of further Growth:

In India the share of Mining is GDP of the country is relatively less than many other

countries in the world such as Australia, South Africa in which mining accounts for nearly

8% of the total GDP. Today Indian mining industry suffers from insufficient exploration of

its reserves. Reserves of Iron ore and Bauxite in Australia grew 150% from 1985 to 2005. In

contrast in India it only increased by 10-20%.

In terms of employment, a mere 0.3% of the population was engaged in the Indian mining

sector, which compared poorly with 3.8% in South Africa and 1.4% in Chile. In addition,

employment growth in this sector has been stagnant at 3% for the last ten years.

31%

19%12%

7%

6%

6%

5%

4%4%

3% 2% 1%

India's Share in worldwide exploration of

non ferrous metals Other Countries

Canada

Australia

United States

Russia

Mexico

Peru

Chile

South Africa

China

Brazil

India

Source: Strategic plan for Ministry of mines, India. (mines.nic.in)

Large land mass is yet to

be fully explored:

Total Land mass: 1.82million sq. Km.

3% (56000 sq.km.)mapped geo

physically.

4% (73000 sq.km.)mapped geo

chemically.


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Role of government in balancing the tussle between Environment vs

mining:

As discussed before the mining industry is an essential part of state and contributes in many

ways for the economical development and growth but it is essential to balance it out with the

environment regulations so as to benefit the society as a whole. Hence the Government of

India has an important role to play. It has laid down several regulations in order to protect the

environment and at the same time not dampen the countrys growth. Some of the rules and

acts laid down constitutionally by the government of India are as follows:

Article 48a of the constitution of India: Duty of the state to conserve the environment.

Article 51A: to protect and improve natural environment. Coal conservation and development Act 1957. Environmental Protection Act 1986. Mineral Conservation and development Rules 1988. Forest conservation Act 1980. Water (Prevention and control of pollution) Act 1974. Air (Prevention and control of pollution) Act1981. Hazardous waste (management and handling rule) 1989. Environment Impact Assessment Notification 1994. Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act 1957. ISO 14000 family and environment standards.National Committee on Environment Planning and Coordination (NCEPC) was formed in

1972 which later in 1985 evolved into a fully fledged Ministry of Environment and Forests

(MOEF) which the apex body for protection and management of environment in the country.

Central pollution control boards (CPCBs) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) were

constituted as autonomous institutes.

Mining ad environmental impact assessment:

Environment Impact assessment (EIA) is an essential exercise to evaluate beneficial and

adverse affects of mining operations of mining o the environment. EIA is generally doe when

mining operations are evaluated for their impact o environment ad community. It considers

how moving activity will affect the local human population, local and regional wildlife local

land use and overall ecology. Changes to water regimes ad lad contours, the disposal of mine


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waste ad tailings together with other issues such as transport of product ad raw material have

to e evaluated.

The environmental studies along description of proposed mining operation form the basis of

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). It is valuable document to the mine manager as it

describes the environmental features of the site. The EIS should e kept o site, ad updated with

further baseline data as it comes to hand.

Contents of EIS:

Identify any environmental constraints on the mining development in the particularlocation.

Provide the basis of a plan for environment management and protection (EMP). Determinants of the key environmental parameters to be measured in the

environmental auditing procedure during the operational life time of the mine.

Provide input to site ad operational approvals ad permits. TO ensure that the decision maker and the community are fully aware of the nature of

development, its impact on environment and nature of mitigating measures proposed.

Ministry of Environment and Forest has identified a total of 25 centres throughout the

country under its Environmental Information System network foe the collection, collation,

retrieval and dissemination of information on various subject specific areas of environment.

Centre for Mining Environment (CME) at Indian school of mines, Dhanbad deals exclusively

with mining and associated environmental issues. These centres are actively involved in

strengthening the environmental database and responding to national and international

queries relating to their specific subject areas.


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Chart: Institutional Mechanism: Mining and environment


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Conclusion:

There is a dire need of linkages with many academic departments for eco-friendly mining

operations. Happiness lies in greenness. In the Mining sector, a wide range of framework for

environmental management is existing in the country. However compliance has been slow

and uneven. The enabling framework needs more focused strengthening to ensure that the

principles of best mining and environmental management practices are adopted. Efforts made

in this direction during the last years have resulted in a major shift in focus of mining-

environment policy in India. The mining sector faces a critical challenge in the coming years,

measuring up to the challenges of economic liberalization and at the same time not to pose a

threat to the ecological integrity of the nation. A general consensus among the stake holders,

policy makers, and regulators has to be reached. A lot has been done but still there is a long

way to go.


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References:

1) Management education and environmental dimensions, Pramod Pathak, J KPattanayak, Chandan Bhar, Niladri Das.

2) Mines.gov.inAnnual Report 2010 -113) Cseindia.org4) www.mapsofindia.com5) oecd.org6) www.cpcb.nic.in7) frontlinenews articles

mining industry in india - growth vs environment

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