Effect of mining activities on neighbouring environment and eco-restoration/ management plan for abandoned mining sites

Abstract

Mineral resource mining and exploitation have a significant influence on water, biological resources, air and land, as well as the socio-economic situation of the surrounding livings. Its main focus on the environmental difficulties that surface mining industries of Jhansi are facing. Quarrying activity produces massive dumps on the ground far from mining sites.
However, quarries damages not only the land surface but also the natural vegetation as well as biodiversity. In other words, the severity of mining activities are not only deteriorating the land surface but also restricted the living entities. The abounded mining area in north-eastern part of the district Jhansi were verified and validated by field survey conducted in the year
2021. The geographical location of the selected quarry sites ranges from from 25° 26' 27.2616'' N to 25° 28' 17.508 N and 78° 39'5.184' E to 78° 41°49.3008''E and the total geographical area covered as 1532.18 ha. The study was accomplished in four parts i.e., existing state of neighbouring villagers in terms of land resources (demographic outline of villages;
landholding and housing condition; agriculture state), environmental imbalance and eco-friendly changes of neighbouring villagers (dust and gaseous contamination; noise pollution; livestock situation; health issues of neighbouring villagers; occupational arrangement), management plan for suitable mitigation measures (stabilizing slopes and creating artificial
slopes; backfilling of the quarry pits; adding organic matter on slopes for plantation; protection of quarrying sites) and plan for restoration (afforestation; vetiver grass plantation; development of nature trails; grazing land; aqua-cultural practices; rain water harvesting). The results concluded that, the health of local quarry employees is directly harmed by stone dust, which makes them vulnerable to life-threatening respiratory disorders. About 50% participants facing multiple diseases, about 15% participants face single disease. The mining/quarry area may be developed as above mitigation measures. It is also suggested that remote sensing and GIS/ GPS technique integrated with drone technology may be very helpful for live/ post monitoring of developed mining areas.