Orissa POST
  • Home
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Feature
  • Timeout
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Sci-Tech
  • Valentines Day
  • Home
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Feature
  • Timeout
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Sci-Tech
  • Valentines Day
No Result
View All Result
Orissa POST
Home Opinion

India’s policy faulty

India’s mining laws must be made watertight and a proactive approach is needed to make mines sustainable, socially acceptable and environmentally feasible

Updated: January 30th, 2019, 23:45 IST
0
, India’s policy faulty
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsApp

Pradeep Kumar Panda


With several mineral deposits, India ranks first in the production of coal, iron ore, chromite, mica and bauxite. Besides, it has large deposits of building stones such as granite, marble and limestone, and huge deposits of cement- and steel-grade limestone. India has thousands of illegal unorganised mines, which can be as small as twentieth portion of a hectare. But most minerals will last for merely 50 to 100 years at the current rate of production.

Mining, without doubt, is essential for development. However, it destroys land and forests and disturbs water regimes. Sustainable mining is a misnomer simply because all ore bodies or stone reserves are finite and non-renewable. Similarly, terms such as environment friendly mining or ‘green mining’ are misleading, too. Even the best managed mines will have adverse environment impacts. Also, large-scale displacement and loss of livelihood of locals are also inevitable.

Laws related to the socio-environmental impact of mining have not been codified clearly. The multiplicity of agencies and institutions managing these laws adds to the confusion. Consequently, illegal mining and illegal practices in legal mining are rampant. The Ministry of Mines, responding to a starred question, recently told Parliament that 85,000 cases of illegal mining have been reported. The actual number could be bigger.

Girls earn less than any other group of employees in mining, making them particularly attractive to businesses driven by profit. Overall, women make up 10-15 per cent of quarry workers and 40.5 per cent of these women are 5–15 years old

Environmental clearances from different agencies are needed for mining. But even today mining happens in ecologically sensitive areas, reserved forests, wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas such as the Himalayas, the Aravalis and along coasts and shorelines. There is no moratorium on mining anywhere in the country.

Environment laws must ensure ecologically destructive projects are disallowed. However, almost every mining operation — particularly open cast mining, drilling, blasting, hauling, crushing, loading and unloading, and transporting — raises fugitive dust and leads to lung diseases.

Towns such as Korba, Bhilai, Satna and Dhanbad have been declared critical by the Central Pollution Control Board. Best practices such as simultaneous reclamation, collection and treatment of surface run-off, fugitive dust control and effective treatment of tailings discharge, storage of tailings, waste rock and slime on impervious ground, are yet to be codified and made mandatory. Currently, no regulatory standard exists for containing the impact of mining, especially relevant to water.

Mineral production and consequent deforestation and ecological devastation in the Aravali Ranges is one of the most well-known examples of the effects of mining. The Aravalis are important watershed, separating the drainage of the Bay of Bengal from the Arabian Sea. Mining in the catchment areas has threatened water bodies in the region. In 1992, the government of India notified Aravalis in Gurgaon and Alwar under the Environment Protection Act as ecologically sensitive.

Critical issues such as displacement and rehabilitation are at the forefront when it comes to mining and mineral-based industrialisation, especially where large-scale mechanised mining is happening. Most mining areas are located in remote and poorly developed regions, inhibited by marginal sections of the society. Mineral exploitation thus results in large-scale uprooting and further impoverishment of communities.

The National Policy on Rehabilitation and Resettlement 2003 has broad guidelines applicable only to projects that displace 500 families or more en masse in the plains, and 250 families in the hills. It has other drawbacks as well. None of the existing rehabilitation and resettlement policies in the country recognises the principle of free, informed and prior consent; they also do not envisage sharing of benefits of the project with the affected people.

It is important to recognise and accept that local communities, especially the tribal populace, receive a raw deal from the government and the industry. Hence, a ‘social licence to operate’ may be implemented. Though the law envisages that public hearing takes place, it is treated only as a formality. The industry finds no reason to take people’s consent. This can be facilitated if the share of benefits of mining is envisaged.

UNICEF estimates that about 20 per cent of mine workers are children. Girls earn less than any other group of employees in mining, making them particularly attractive to businesses driven by profit. Overall women make up 10-15 per cent of quarry workers and 40.5 per cent of these women are 5–15 years old.

Mining of different minerals pose different health impacts. In and around the lead-zinc mines, the ions of these metals in the air lead to lung diseases. Their excessive presence in the soil may enter the food chain, the impact of which is still being researched. Silica dust from in and around sandstone mines causes silicosis, also known as grinder’s disease. It is an occupational lung disease marked by inflammation and scarring in the form of nodular lesions in the upper lobes of the lungs. National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, in a report revealed a pattern in the incidence of silicosis: 54.5 per cent in making slate pencils, 21 per cent in stone quarries, 38 per cent in agate polishing units and 12 per cent in stone crushing units.

If there is no social investment from mining, governments may decide effective legislative changes to extract larger share from the so-called ‘super-profits’ earned by the mining companies. Mineral rich states of the country are voicing their concern to fill state coffers with profits from resource exploitation so that the same can be utilised for welfare agenda.

The proposed taxation in the new Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Bill towards profit sharing is not adequate in comparison with the magnitude of profits earned by mining companies. Local people, who have remained poor even after 70 years, are up in arms. Mining, whether legal or illegal, is always disastrous to the environment and damages society. It needs to be undertaken with responsibility and sound thought.

Mining leaves wastage. The laws of the land, therefore, have to be strictly followed and loopholes in these plugged. There is an urgency to develop a proactive approach which is economically viable, developmentally sustainable, socially acceptable and environmentally feasible in the new mining policy and legislation.

The writer is an economist.

Tags: environmental clearanceIndia's policy faultyminingOpinionORISSA POSTPradeep Kumar Panda
Previous Post

Gandhian way to achieve justice

Next Post

State not in debt trap

Next Post
, India’s policy faulty

State not in debt trap

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CBSE Exam Mate Answers
OrissaPOST ePaper

Click Here: Plastic Free Odisha

Plastic Free Odisha

Anubhav Mohanty, Actor

Anubhav Mohanty supports call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website www.orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Ratikant Mohapatra,Odissi Dance Director

Ratikant Mohapatra support a plastic free odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Utkal University Journalism Department Students

Utkal University Journalism Department students call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website www.orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Students of Tulasipur Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir, Cuttack

Students of Tulasipur Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir, Cuttack call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Members of All Ride Bicycle

Members of All Ride Bicycle supports a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Govinda Poddar-Odisha Ranji Team Captain

Govinda Poddar, Odisha Ranji Team Captain calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Have You Joined the movement? *Visit our website ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Olympian Anuradha Biswal

Olympian Anuradha Biswal supports a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Hinjili Police

Hinjili Police support plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your Photos/Selfie ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

D.A.V Public School-Kalinga Nagar

D.A.V Public School Students, support Plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Sri Aurobindo School students & teachers

Sri Aurobindo School students & teachers of Sambalpur support plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Tanbhi Block School students and staff

Tanbhi Block School students and staff support plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Bijay Mohanty, Actor

Actor Bijay Mohanty calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Have You Joined the movement? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Unit III Bharat Scouts and Guide

Unit III Bharat Scouts and Guides team call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Kalamatia Sahid Bidyapitha students

Kalamatia Sahid Bidyapitha students support plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Sudarsan Pattnaik,Sand Artist

Sudarsan Pattnaik support a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your Photos/Selfie ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Nayagarh Girls’ High School

Nayagarh Girls’ High School students support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Debashish Mohanty-Former Indian Cricketer

Cricketer Debashish Mohanty supports a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Actor Sritam Das

Actor Sritam Das supports a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Miteish Khimji,Entrepreneur

Miteish Khimji supports a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Bargarh Ranapratap High School students

Bargarh Ranapratap High School students support plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Archita Sahu, Actress

Archita Sahu support a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Angul Govt. College Students

Angul Govt. College Students support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Valena Valentina-Karate Player

Karate player Valena Valentina calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Have You Joined the movement? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Sundargarh Public School teachers

Sundargarh Public School teachers support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Haratiya Bidyaniketan School students

Haratiya Bidyaniketan School students of Alipur, Bari support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Sports Person Sradhanjali Samantaray

Sports Personality Sradhanjali Samantaray support a *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your Photos/Selfie (with fingers ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Elina Samantray, Actress

Elina Samantray calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website www.orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Deepak Kumar-Actor

Deepak Kumar support a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Gandhi College Plus III science students of Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar

Gandhi Plus III science students of Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar support a plastic free Odisha. Do you?   *Visit our website orissapost.com. ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Akash Dasnayak, Actor

Akash Dasnayak, Actor supports a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your ...

August 30, 2018
, India’s policy faulty
Cartoon Corner

cartoon corner

February 14, 2019
0

Read more

Editorial

Chinks in the armour

, India’s policy faulty
February 16, 2019
0

Jaish-e-Muhammad means army of Muhammad. This is strange because the Prophet of Islam had no ambitions of conquest. Arab expansion...

Read more

Humiliated

, India’s policy faulty
February 15, 2019
0

Caught in a state of shock and numbness, it will take time for the Indian paramilitary forces to recover and...

Read more

Playing with fire

, India’s policy faulty
February 12, 2019
0

Fire safety remains abysmal in the country despite the numerous examples that incidents in the past have set. Only recently...

Read more

Hope wanes

, India’s policy faulty
February 12, 2019
0

‘Eradication of corruption’ and ‘development’ were two of the major poll planks on which the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance...

Read more
  • Home
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Feature
  • Sports
  • Sci-Tech
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Career
Developed By Ratna Technology

© 2018 All rights Reserved by OrissaPOST

  • Home
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Feature
  • Timeout
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Sci-Tech
  • Valentines Day

© 2018 All rights Reserved by OrissaPOST