The need for sustainable mining

Mining is one of the most significant economic activities in India. It significantly contributes to the GDP share produced by the industrial sector of the country. With a large workforce involved in mining, the Government of India provides special care while laying down the policies for mining. In recent years, special attention has been provided to make mining sustainable and in compliance with environmental standards.

It is quite out in the open today that mining results in a great deal of environmental pollution. However, mining is the only way to extract precious metals, minerals, and ores, which play an important role in the manufacturing of consumer products. This is why restricting mining activity is difficult, and it might hamper the growth of the economy of a developing country like India.

This is the reason why the Indian Government is investing in research and development to find out ways to make mining sustainable. The good thing is that major players in the mining sector of India have already employed measures in this regard, which have proven to be extremely beneficial. Here are a few of those measures for sustainable mining.

1. Groundwater preservation

The mining companies conduct a thorough survey of the groundwater level of the area. They make sure that the groundwater remains untouched and take extra precautions to avoid putting any barrier to the flow of groundwater. In earlier times, mining activities either polluted the groundwater or restricted its flow. If the mining area was adjacent to an agricultural area, it would pose a threat to the irrigation system of fields, resulting in issues with crop production. So, groundwater preservation is an important way to maintain mining sustainability.

2. Remote sensing to detect the impact

Not all topographies are capable of withstanding the shocks and vibrations produced during mining activities. If the topography around a mine is weak, heavy mining activity might result in mini earthquakes and landslides, which might jeopardize the security of the local community. So, sustainable mining companies hire remote sensing technology to find the fault lines in the topography of the mining area and make the excavation accordingly.

3. Carbon waste management

Mining produces carbon waste. These waste products are usually highly toxic and harm the flora and fauna of the locality. The waste products might also cause problems for the health of the mine-workers. So, sustainable mining companies have started keeping aside a portion of their annual budget to manage the carbon waste. There are various scientific means to minimize carbon waste products and to also dispose them of safely.