Page 13 - RMAI Bulletin July - September 2021

RMAI BULLETIN JULY TO SEPTEMBER 2021

Y Displacement and Rehabilitation: With new vicinity area. If explosives are used, the dust can
projects are taken up, more land is being cover a lot of area with high particulate matter
encroached upon and more people have to leave and can cause respiratory issues living in the area.
their home just to make way for such projects.
Y Loss of biodiversity and local cultural heritage.
This large scale displacement leads to local
people's grievances and improper rehabilitation Y Water pollution - water from streams and rivers
further leading to alienation and people's distrust flowing from mining area have become acidic and
on the government. It is not just loss of land rather unfit for drinking. For example: Meghalaya's Kopili
the loss of their way of life which is tribal in river, Damodar River etc.
nature, their culture and rich traditions. It has Y Prevalence of few diseases in the mining areas -
made way for left wing extremism in the resource fibrosis, silicosis etc.
rich areas like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha,
West Bengal etc. Environmental pollution has been caused by the
Y Human Rights violation: Mining related deaths, Makrana Marble mines in Rajasthan, the Granite mines
inadequate rehabilitation, and rudimentary ways in Karnataka have left a big hole on the earth, and
of mining adopted without any protective gears or Damodar River has been severely polluted by the coal
protocols, etc. Massive local protests have taken mines.
place against mining in Niyamgiri hills of Odisha,
Sterlite protest in Tamil Nadu. Political Challenge:
The mining industry is very susceptible to the political
These are monumental challenges and we need to take risks as they are important to the economy. Many big
them seriously. We need to be ready to transform the industries can generate significant amount of GDP,
industry with people, processes and technologies. We hence they become a highlight in the many nationalist
just cannot stick to the old traditional method of debate. This sector has potential to change the existing
mining. We need to dive in now and find people who government policies that can lead to their license
are collaborative and dedicated towards putting faith cancellation or contract reviews.
in their ideas and working to improve them. If we do
not start now, we are definitely putting a lot at stake In relatively poor countries, where the resources are
and will never be able to take the flight again. abundant, disparities between rising poverty and growing
income can fuel civil disturbance between the locals and
Risks Overlooked: the industrialists. It can also lead to conflict between
During and after mining land goes various stages of National government, local municipalities and
rehabilitation. The waste rocks created are covered international investors over the distribution of royalties
with the top soil, the pit is filled with sand, and and profit. Any failure to address the environmental
otherwise the pit can be used as a lake by the problems can trigger issues between the local
community living near to it. Sometimes, new company communities and the government, which can have
or factory comes up there. We can easily use the area impact on the reputation of the company or the investors.
for other purpose, but it becomes very difficult to
restore the same vegetative cover on the soil and the The mining industry is very significant to the GDP, but
years it take to regain its fertility is too long to wait. it is also very important in generating employment and
Few of the common issues we overlook are: revenue. This can lead to corruption as the host
Y The land area is changed significantly after mining. government can negotiate for the concessions, or
outright expropriation. While, most of the companies
Y Large pits are created which becomes difficult to
are prepared to deal and safety and management
fill with the sand or gravel and can be misused by
issues, they are unaware of the political risks. Also,
the people.
they cannot avoid the issue as the investors have put
Y Vehicles on site emit large amount of greenhouse faith in them. Therefore, they need to plan properly
gases as there is no one the checks their level of to mitigate it.
emission.

Y Dust is emitted and can pollute the air in the It has been in the history that without "paying their

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