Indepth: Mining

Don't mine us out of existence

Date: 10/03/2010

This new report by Amnesty International documents how an alumina refinery operated by a subsidiary of Britain-based Vedanta Resources in Orissa is causing air & water pollution, that threatens the health of local people and their access to water. Report demonstrates how local communities have been denied information about the proposed mining & refinery expansion projects and haven't been adequately consulted.

Report: Public hearing of Vedanta Aluminium for its Alumina Refinery

Report: Inspection report on Vedanta

Feature: Mining firms set up shop

Feature: Endangered tribals up against the terror of Vedanta

Feature: Extracting a cost

Report: EIA report on Alumina Refinery

Latest News from Down To Earth

Mine-boggling
The state vigilance department began probing the scam after the opposition highlighted irregularities in mining in July last year. Till date it has registered 11 cases against individuals and mining companies, including big names like Rungta Mines and Ms Serajuddin and Company.
Church of England sells Vedanta shares
the Church of England has sold its shares of Vedanta Resources saying it is not happy with the way the metal corporation treated tribals of Orissa’s Kalahandi district.

Government Policies and Action Plans

The Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 2010
08 Jan 2010 Posted by :
This Act may be called the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 2010. It extends to the whole of India. It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
Model State Mineral Policy, 2010 - Draft
01 Jan 2010 Posted by :
Minerals are a finite and non-renewable resource, and must be exploited wisely in the larger interest of the State. While on the one hand, mineral exploration brings about increased economic activity and development of the State, it can have adverse social and ecological consequences which must be sincerely and adequately addressed in the interest of wellbeing of all the citizensof the State.

Mining Impacts

Impact of coal mining on ponds of Jharia town, Dhanbad, Jharkhand
The geochemistry of ponds was studies around Jharia coal mining area. The high concentrations of cations and anions revealed the enrichment of pollution and thick population of E.coli bacteria. The pond waters are alkaline at all sampling sites and control the weathering pattern and availability of dissolved solids in Jharia pond water.
Source: ISM University
Tags: Coal, Dhanbad (D), Jharkhand, Wetlands, India, Mining, Water Pollution
Report on environmental issues of chromite mining in Sukinda valley
Orissa accounts for about 98% of the total proved chromite (chromium ore)reserves of the country, of which about 97% occur in the Sukinda Valley, over an area covering approximately 200 sq. km., in the Jajpur district. Presently there are 14 chromite mines operating in Sukinda. Out of these, one mine, Mahagiri Chromite Mines (IMFA) has started its operation of mining lumpy
Source: Orissa State Pollution Control Board
Tags: Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), Environment Management, Health Effects, Minerals, Orissa, Rehabilitation, SPM, Air Pollution, Mining, Water Resources

Mining In-Court

Central Empowered Committee report regarding illegal mining by Obulapuram mining company
Report by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) submitted to the Supreme Court on alleged illegal mining by Obulapuram mining company in violation of the forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
Source: Central Empowered Committee
Tags: Bellary (D), Central Empowered Committee (CEC), Forest Act 1980, Illegal Trade, Karnataka, Forests, Mining
High Court of Delhi judgement on Environment Clearance to M/s. Panduranga Timblo Industries, Margao, Goa
Writ Petition (Civil) No. 9340/2009 and CM Appl Nos. 7127/09 and 12496/2009. The challenge in this writ petition is to an order dated 14th October 2008 passed by the National Environmental Appellate Authority ("NEAA"), New Delhi dismissing the Appeal No. 12 of 2007 filed by the Appellant.
Source: High Court of Delhi
Tags: Environment Act 1986, Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), Goa, Health Effects, Mining Waste, Ministry Of Environment And Forests (MOEF), Mining

Inside India

The Kalinganagar tragedy: Development goal or development malaise
On 2 January 2006, the police in Kalinganagar, Orissa opened fire against a group of tribal people protesting against Tatas constructing a steel plant on their lands and not paying them adequate compensation. This tragedy killing 12 persons on the spot shocked the whole nation.
Source: Social Change
Tags: Compensation, Conflicts, Development, Displacement, Iron And Steel Industry, Land Acquisition, Orissa, Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO), Tribals, Mining, People

Mining Reclamation

Land restoration/reclamation monitoring of opencast coal mines of WCL based on satellite data for the year 2008-09
Objective of the land reclamation/restoration monitoring is to assess the area of backfilled, plantation, OB dumps, social forestry, active mining area, settlements and water bodies, distribution of wasteland, agricultural land and forest land in the leasehold area of the project.
Source: Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd
Tags: Coal, Land Reclamation, Mining Reclamation, Remote Sensing, Mining

Books

The state of India's environment: the sixth citizens' report - rich lands poor people: is 'sustainable' mining possible?
This book is an attempt to document all the complexities of mining. While, it is true that mining is essential, it is not a simple 'dig and sell' proposition for a country like India. Its challenges are immense. The book gives an overview of these challenges - protection and preservation of environment and inclusive development of all sections of society - and where does the Indian Mineral Industry stand today.
Corporate accountability and sustainable development
This volume is part of the series Ecological Economics and Human Well-being that offers outstanding recent work in the transdisciplinary field of ecological economics, whose focus is the study of the relationship between economic activity and environmental sustainability.