Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Mining, a fundamental activity for resource extraction, inevitably interacts with the environment, often leading to significant ecological disturbances. While essential for economic development, mining operations pose a multitude of environmental hazards, impacting air and water quality, land stability, and biodiversity. The scale of these impacts varies depending on the mining method (surface vs. underground), the type of mineral extracted, and the environmental regulations in place. Recent incidents like the Joshimath land subsidence, partially linked to underground mining activities, highlight the urgent need for sustainable mining practices and robust environmental safeguards.
Environmental Hazards Caused by Mining
Mining activities generate a wide range of environmental hazards, categorized as follows:
1. Air Pollution
- Dust Generation: Open-cast mining and processing activities release particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) into the air, causing respiratory problems and reducing visibility.
- Gaseous Emissions: Mining operations release gases like sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon monoxide (CO) from blasting, machinery, and ore processing.
- Radon Gas: Uranium mining releases radon, a radioactive gas, posing a health risk to miners and nearby communities.
2. Water Pollution
- Acid Mine Drainage (AMD): Exposure of sulfide minerals to air and water creates sulfuric acid, which leaches heavy metals from the ore body, contaminating surface and groundwater. This is a major issue in coal and metal sulfide mining areas.
- Heavy Metal Contamination: Mining releases heavy metals like mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium into water bodies, posing serious health risks to humans and aquatic life.
- Sedimentation: Erosion from mining sites increases sediment load in rivers and streams, affecting water quality and aquatic habitats.
- Chemical Contamination: Use of chemicals like cyanide (gold mining) and mercury (artisanal gold mining) can contaminate water sources.
3. Soil Degradation
- Topsoil Removal: Open-cast mining involves removing topsoil, reducing soil fertility and hindering vegetation regrowth.
- Soil Contamination: Heavy metals and chemicals from mining activities contaminate soil, making it unsuitable for agriculture.
- Soil Erosion: Disturbed land surfaces are prone to erosion, leading to land degradation and sedimentation of water bodies.
- Compaction: Heavy machinery compacts the soil, reducing its permeability and hindering plant growth.
4. Land Degradation & Geomorphological Changes
- Subsidence: Underground mining can cause land subsidence, leading to structural damage to buildings and infrastructure. (e.g., Joshimath, Uttarakhand)
- Landslides: Slope instability caused by mining activities increases the risk of landslides, particularly in hilly areas.
- Pit Formation: Open-cast mining creates large pits, altering the landscape and potentially creating water-filled voids.
- Waste Rock Disposal: Large volumes of waste rock generated during mining require disposal, often in dumps that can contribute to land degradation and AMD.
5. Biodiversity Loss
- Habitat Destruction: Mining operations destroy natural habitats, leading to loss of biodiversity.
- Fragmentation: Mining activities fragment habitats, isolating populations and reducing genetic diversity.
- Disturbance to Wildlife: Noise and vibration from mining activities disturb wildlife, affecting their behavior and breeding patterns.
- Impact on Aquatic Ecosystems: Water pollution from mining harms aquatic organisms and disrupts aquatic ecosystems.
6. Noise Pollution
- Blasting, heavy machinery operation, and transportation activities generate high levels of noise pollution, impacting human health and wildlife.
Mitigation Measures
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Conducting thorough EIAs before starting mining operations to identify potential environmental impacts and develop mitigation plans.
- Reclamation and Rehabilitation: Restoring mined areas to a productive state through reforestation, soil stabilization, and water management.
- Water Treatment: Treating AMD and contaminated water before discharge to remove pollutants.
- Dust Control: Implementing dust suppression measures like water spraying and covering stockpiles.
- Waste Management: Properly managing waste rock and tailings to prevent environmental contamination.
- Monitoring: Regularly monitoring air and water quality to detect and address pollution problems.
- Sustainable Mining Practices: Adopting environmentally friendly mining techniques like in-situ leaching and bioleaching.
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and its subsequent amendments, along with various environmental regulations, aim to regulate mining activities and minimize their environmental impacts. However, effective implementation and enforcement remain a challenge.
Conclusion
Mining, while crucial for economic progress, presents significant environmental challenges. Addressing these hazards requires a holistic approach encompassing stringent regulations, responsible mining practices, effective mitigation measures, and continuous monitoring. Prioritizing environmental sustainability alongside economic benefits is essential to ensure that future generations can benefit from mineral resources without compromising the health of the planet. Investing in research and development of cleaner mining technologies is also vital for minimizing the environmental footprint of this essential industry.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.