Mining as a win-win activity

Mining is essential to obtain metals and minerals for India’s industries. But in the course of mining, apart from environmental pollution, large forest areas are decimated, water bodies damaged and many local people and wild animals displaced.

Therefore, it is essential to plan and implement ‘Integrated Development of Mine Areas (IDMA)’.

This would involve scientific mining, rainwater harvesting and water resource management, afforestation of mine dumps and nearby barren areas, rehabilitation of displaced persons and protection of the environment. The IDMA programme should be implemented across all mines in India to benefit all stakeholders.

Though valuable minerals are extracted and used from mines, the local people receive little benefit. Besides losing cultivable lands and houses, they are deprived of drinking water, wood and other forest produce. In most cases, they end up leading unwholesome lives amidst polluted environs.

After visiting numerous mine areas in Odisha and other parts of India in the mid-1980s, I had formulated a plan for integrated development of mine areas termed ‘MAHA’ (Mines, Minerals and Habitat). Under MAHA, it is possible to undertake development initiatives, while protecting the environment and making the mining areas productive even after cessation of mining.

BEST MINING PRACTICES

The adoption of the best practices under IDMA would entail some of the following:

a) Better mine planning to cause minimal impact in forest areas, avoiding destruction of water bodies and mining both high and low-grade minerals scientifically;

b) Managing the overburden (the rock and soil that lies above the mineral to be mined) and preserving the topsoil for future reforestation programmes;

c) Upgrading low and off-grade ores and agglomerating ore fines as well as beneficiated products of low-grade ores at the mine site;

d) Utilisation of mine wastes for construction of mine roads, low-cost houses, development of township for employees within mine areas;

e) Preserving existing water bodies and undertaking rainwater harvesting in the ground and the pits for utilisation in mineral processing, agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing and domestic use;

f) Undertaking afforestation via plantation of fast growing, oilseed producing and other commercial trees such as bamboo, teak, sal, etc. on the overburden and nearby deforested lands;

g) Undertaking health, educational and other socio-economical programmes, particularly for affected people within the area.

Along with co-workers, I undertook the ‘MAHA’ programme in the mid-1980s at two typical mines — the South Kaliapani Chromite mines, Jajpur district, Odisha, owned by the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), and the Himalayan foothills of the Lambidhar Limestone mine near Mussoorie, Uttaranchal, owned by the State Mineral Development Corporation.

‘MAHA’ EXPERIENCE

Both mine owners were satisfied with the possible benefits from the MAHA project. Unfortunately, these expressions of intent were not followed up.

Although the Ministry of Environment and Forests insists on implementation of such programmes, this never happens. Mine owners should realise that by implementing integrated development programmes, they and the local people will benefit equally and mining activities would continue smoothly, while simultaneously keeping the environment clean.

CHROMITE MINE

There were multiple achievements in various areas at the South Kaliapani chromite mine, such as:

Mineral Processing : Mineralogical characterisation studies of various low-grade chrome ore samples, including amenability to beneficiation, were done at the initial stage.

Building Materials : The layout of the housing plan, construction techniques and material specifications of the first phase were scrutinised properly.

Road Construction : Feasibility studies on (i) development of haulage roads at South Kaliapani Mine Sites (ii) development of township roads and (iii) maintenance of link roads from South Kaliapani Mines to National Highway No. 5A were carried out.

Most recommendations were reported to OMC for implementation.

Water Treatment : Water samples from different sources around South Kaliapani Chromite Mine were analysed. The design for a water treatment plant of 25 cubic metre capacity was provided for potable purposes.

Based on this, Infrastructure Development Corporation of Orissa constructed a water treatment plant at the site.

Plantations in Mine Areas : During the 1985 and 1986 monsoons, about 1,000 plants across 30 species were planted on an experimental basis on the slopes and flat regions of overburden dumps, covering about 1.5 hectares.

After two years, about 70 per cent survived, some with good growth rates.

The Lambidhar Limestone mines too reported similar achievements.

Benefits Expected

By adopting the IDMA programmes, the following benefits could be derived:

(i) With modern mining practices, it would be possible to conserve and utilise mining resources to the fullest while increasing production.

(ii) Low and off-grade minerals can be beneficiated and utilised.

(iii) Preserving existing water resources and harvesting rainwater in the ground and the pits ensures enough water for mineral processing, afforestation, agriculture, pisciculture and domestic purposes.

(iv) Commercial plantation and pisciculture in the water bodies generate employment opportunities for local people and good returns for mine owners.

(v) By employing locals in mining and allied activities and implementing CSR programmes, the socio-economic condition of mine workers and locals can be improved considerably.

After mining ceases, locals will have self-employment opportunities.

State and Central Governments should take various steps to implement the IDMA.

In the process, while conserving mineral resources and utilising these judiciously for developing mineral-based industries, it will be possible to significantly improve the local people’s socio-economic conditions, while keeping the environment clean.

It is, therefore, important for the government to implement IDMA for the benefit of all stakeholders.

(The writer is ex-Director General, CSIR.)

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