The degradation of environment in the mining areas has affected the public life by way of air pollution, land degradation, forest degradation and retreating water table etc. Government is aware of these and taken measures to improve the various aspects of environment degradation by implementing strict condition for every lease holder. The mining engineers and lassies are compelled to adhere with the rules and follow the Eco- Friendly Mining in the state.

  

There are sufficient existing provisions in various laws to take care of measures required to protect environment in mining areas. Some of the provisions are being highlighted as under:-

  

 Raj Minor Mineral Concession rule,2017:-Rule29&34

 

M.C.D.R.,2017: Rule 31,32,33 and Rule34.

 Granite Conservation and Development Rules:- Rule 29,30,31,&32

Marble Development Conservation rules,2002:- Rule 22,25,26,27&28.

These provisions should be followed strictly by all the leaseholders otherwise action will be initiated against defaulting leaseholders as per rules.

 For implementing the provisions of various laws related with Environment protection and Eco-Friendly mining in an effective manner, every mining lease holder is required to prepare and submit mining plan to concerned Assistant Mining Engineer/ mining engineer. addition to the mining plan / mining scheme as required under law. Mine closure plan is also mandatory to rehabilitation & reclamation of mines  areas  

 SUSTAINABLE MINE DEVELOPMENT

 Environmental safeguard.- (1) No mining lease or quarry licence shall be granted without obtaining prior consents, approvals, permits, no-objections and the like as may be required under  applicable laws for commencement of mining operations.

 (2) Every mining lease or licence holder shall,-

 (i) carry out the mining operations in such a manner so as to ensure systematic development of the mine or quarry, conservation of mineral, protection of the environment and safety of the man and machinery;

 (ii) ensure that no natural watercourse or water resources is obstructed due to any mining operation. Adequate measures shall be taken for protection of the older-streams, if any, emanating or passing through the lease or licence area during the course of mining operation;

 (iii) keep mine working restricted to above ground water level till approval of the Ground Water Department of the State is obtained;

 (iv) temporarily store the top soil, at the place earmarked in the mine plan or scheme;

(v) dump over burden generated during the mining operations at earmarked dump site shown in the mine plan or scheme;

 (vi) take effective safeguard, such as regular water sprinkling in critical areas prone to air pollution and having high levels of particulate matter such as around crushing and screening plant, loading and unloading point and all transfer points;

 (vii) practice controlled blasting and implement mitigative measures for control of ground vibrations and to arrest fly rocks and boulders. Blasting shall be done only by a person holding blaster certificate from the Director General of Mines Safety. Deep hole blasting shall be carried out only after approval of the Director General of Mines Safety;

 (viii) maintain the bench height and slope as per the Metalliferous Mines Regulations, 1961;

 (ix) take all mitigative measures during the mining operations to ensure that the buildings or structures in the nearby areas shall not be affected due to blasting;

 (x) use drills either equipped with dust extractors or operated with water injection system for wet drilling to control the pneumoconiosis and silicosis;

 (xi) provide protective wears or respiratory devices to the personnel working in mining area and shall also provide adequate training and education on safety, environment and health aspects;

 (xii) undertake to ensure minimum losses to the agriculture crops and undertake to contribute suitably for compensation to the loss or damage to the crops;

 (xiii) organize regular health check up camps for the workers engaged in mines and also periodically organize occupational health surveillance program for the workers to observe any contractions due to exposure to dust and take corrective measures, if needed;

 (xiv) keep vehicular emissions under control and regularly monitor the same. Measures shall be taken for maintenance of vehicles used in mining operations and in transportation of mineral;

 (xv) provide insurance cover to all workers engaged in mines;

 (xvi) take measures for control of noise levels within permissible limit;

 (xvii) The non-saleable mineral rejects at mine bottom shall regularly be collected and transported to the surface and the mine floor shall be kept reasonably clear of debris;

 (xviii) Small lumps of mineral shall, as far as possible, be segregated from the dumps and stored separately for future use; and

 (xix) The ground selected for dumping of top soil, overburden, waste material or nonsaleable mineral shall be away from workings of the mine.

 (3) The Government shall be entitled to charge certain amount per year or part thereof for the ecological restoration of mines and quarries from the lessee or licencee and this shall be the part of the agreement.

 The amount fixed and revised by the Government and may vary from place to place.

 Guidelines :

  

1. Whenever the lassies dig out the available top soil they may store it separately in such a manner that it could be utilized for stabilizing of dumps created by depositing over burden, by intensive plantation.
2. For minerals like Gypsum, brick earth etc. where mining is done for very shallow depth (1m to 5m), waste & overburden generated during mining operations, must be refilled. After leveling, top soil collected must be spread over it suitable plantation should be done.
3. All lease holders should check the water channels in their mining lease areas and clear / clean them before the rains start. water should flows in its natural path and there should be no obstruction created by way of unplanned mining activities.
4. If some diversion of water channels becomes necessary due to availability of mineral in lease area at a particular location only, new drains following the contours be constructed by lessees, so that water flows un-obstructed to main water bodies/ponds/tanks/natural reservoirs.

The over burden should not be dumped in such a manner that it flows with  water in the nearby tanks, reservoirs and ponds etc. the leaseholders should dump the over burden in such a manner that it does not gets washed away  to the nearby water tanks and lakes etc. during the rainy season.