Minerals are one of the most valuable natural resources. They are used as raw materials in a variety of industries. The mining history of India dates back to the Harappan Civilization. India is bestowed with rich reserves of various minerals including both metallic as well as non-metallic minerals. India produces as many as 95 minerals, which include fuel, metallic, non-metallic, atomic and minor minerals (including building and other materials). The total value of mineral production in the year 2021-22 is approximately Rs 211857 Crores. Out of this metallic minerals estimated for Rs 122142 Crores and non-metallic minerals are estimated at Rs 89715 Crores.
Let us explore the impact of mining on the Indian society and the disparities it creates. Also, we would try to understand the socioeconomic implications of mining and a portion of the population that is left marginalized under the pursuit of wealth.
India is bestowed with a diverse mineral belt of metallic and non-metallic minerals. The North-Eastern Peninsular Belt stands out as a hub for iron, coal, manganese, bauxite, and mica, chiefly centered around Chhota Nagpur in Jharkhand and extending into Odisha, West Bengal, and parts of Chhattisgarh. The Central Belt, spanning Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra, brims with manganese, bauxite, limestone, coal, and other resources. The Southern Belt houses ferrous mineral resources, while the South-Western Belt flaunts iron ore, garnet, and clay in abundance. The North-Western Belt in Rajasthan and Gujarat shines with non-ferrous metals like copper, lead, zinc, uranium, mica, beryllium, and precious stones. The industry has the potential to significantly impact GDP growth, and foreign exchange earnings, and give end-use industries like building, infrastructure, automotive, and electricity, among others, a competitive edge by obtaining essential raw materials at reasonable rates. Rise in infrastructure development and automotive production are driving growth. Power and cement industries are also aiding growth for the sector. Demand for iron and steel is set to continue given the strong growth expectations for the residential and commercial building industry.
The National Mineral Policy aims to increase mining’s contribution to the country’s GDP by initiating large-scale exploration, emphasising deep-sea resources. The current National Mineral Policy 2008 is replaced by the National Mineral Policy 2019. (“NMP 2008”). The new program aims to expand major mineral production by 200 per cent in seven years and lower the mining sector’s trade imbalance by half in that time. For a long time, India’s mining sector has faced many issues, including illicit and unscientific mining, environmental and legislative procedure breaches, increased mortality at mine sites, and a lack of investment. Professionals in the mineral sector have also seen fewer job possibilities due to this. The National Mineral Policy 2019 calls for the rationalisation of PSU-reserved regions that have not been utilised, and these territories will now be auctioned. Exclusive mining zones with in-principle legislative approvals and inter-generational fairness are among the goals of the new strategy. E-Government, IT-enabled tools, and awareness and information campaigns will all be used to regulate the Minerals industry. The notion of ‘Exclusive Mining Zones’ is introduced. The goal of the National Mineral Policy 2019 is to create a more meaningful, implementable, and effective policy that promotes more openness, better regulation, enforcement, and balanced society along with economic growth and sustainable mining practices. Ensuring environmental sustainability while raising performance standards is a significant development and policy concern for the mining industry.
The mining industry in India is plagued by a number of environmental as well as socioeconomic issues. Several accidents in underground and surface mines over the last few years have killed a number of workers. One such example of environmental damage is that of Kudremukh Iron Ore Company in Karnataka. It has caused a large-scale destruction of hills and a great amount of pollution. Every year mining workers lose their lives due to mining accidents. Moreover, illegal and unsupervised mining adds up to this problem.
Mining operations have a dual impact on local communities, presenting both positive and negative consequences. While the positives, such as job opportunities and community development initiatives, hold significance, they often fall short in offsetting the potential drawbacks. Negatively, mining disrupts communities by displacing residents from their homes and lands, limiting access to clean water and land, compromising health and livelihoods, creating divisions within communities over resource distribution, and altering social dynamics. The absence of consultation and information dissemination regarding planned mining activities exacerbates these impacts. Moreover, denying local communities a voice in determining whether a mine should operate undermines the potential benefits. Additionally, the socioeconomic repercussions of mining weigh heavily on society. In several mineral-rich states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, there's a discernible link between high reliance on mineral resources and lower per capita incomes, heightened poverty, reduced growth rates, and elevated rates of mortality, malnutrition, and morbidity. A district-wise analysis substantiates this correlation, revealing that many mineral-rich districts are among the poorest and most underdeveloped regions in India. For instance, districts like Keonjhar, Gulbarga, and Koraput, significant producers of iron ore, limestone, and bauxite respectively, languish near the bottom in the Human Development Index within their respective states, despite their substantial mineral contributions to the nation.
Women in mining predominantly engage in secondary tasks like cutting, sorting, quarrying, and loading and unloading, exposing them to significant health risks. Continuous exposure to dust and pollution, both directly and indirectly through contaminated water and air, poses severe health hazards to these women workers. As many of them are employed as contract laborers receiving daily wages, they lack economic security or compensation when facing health issues that lead to workdays lost. The situation worsens for pregnant women, as they often receive inadequate compensation or support during pregnancy, straining their finances and health. Moreover, these women are compelled to work in hazardous conditions amid noise and air pollution, impacting their unborn children adversely. Factors such as work conditions, timings, and limited leave facilities significantly impact women's health. Furthermore, children are also vulnerable and indirectly affected by the hazardous mining environment from conception through birth. Women often have no choice but to bring their children to mining areas, exposing them to high levels of dust, pollution, mine explosives, and the risk of accidents.
In order to be more environmentally sustainable, mining operations are increasingly conducted in a manner that minimizes their impact on the surrounding environment, and leaves mine sites in an acceptable state for re-use by people or ecosystems. A number of management strategies and technologies are being developed and used by the mining industry to reduce the environmental impacts of mining. Water plays a pivotal role in various facets of mining operations, but its use can significantly impact both the quantity and quality of available water downstream for ecosystems and other water users, particularly in arid regions, through surface water diversion and groundwater pumping. Mining and metal processing demand substantial energy, involving diesel for machinery, electricity for ore refinement, and coal for smelting processes. The extraction of fossil fuels and infrastructure construction for energy generation contribute their environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions and contamination risks along the energy supply route. Reducing energy consumption not only curtails greenhouse gas emissions but also extends fossil fuel reserves and lowers operational costs.
Mining affects only a tiny part of the Earth's surface, with less than 0.01% of Canada's land used for mining in the past century. However, mining activities impact land across different stages, from exploration to closure. Trees and plants are cleared for building roads and structures, digging pits or tunnels to reach minerals, and creating waste storage areas like tailings ponds, which can harm habitats and forests.To minimize these impacts, there are ways to help. These include reducing the overall space needed for mining, producing and storing less waste, protecting biodiversity by relocating endangered plants, and planning mines around existing infrastructure when possible. Even though current methods involve digging up ores, new technologies like biomining are being explored, which might allow mining with less disturbance to land in the future.
In summary, mineral extraction drives economic growth but presents social, environmental, and economic challenges. India's mineral-rich regions face disparities, impacting marginalized groups and local communities adversely. Environmental concerns, including water scarcity, energy consumption, and land disturbance, demand innovative solutions. Addressing these issues requires sustainable practices, transparent governance, and equitable resource distribution. Balancing resource extraction with environmental preservation is crucial. Collaborative efforts promoting responsible mining, community well-being, and conservation are pivotal for sustainable development, ensuring a harmonious coexistence between mineral extraction, societal welfare, and environmental stewardship.