2014-Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
SIPS 2014 Volume 1: Mining
| Editors: | Kongoli F |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2014 |
| Pages: | 424 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-1-987820-03-4 |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
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Development paradigm and mining clusters in Western Kachchh, Gujarat, India: Need for sustainable landuse in mining areas and management of dry land ecosystems
B. Anjan Kumar Prusty1;1GUJARAT INSTITUTE OF DESERT ECOLOGY (GUIDE), Bhuj, India;
Type of Paper: Regular
Id Paper: 172
Topic: 1
Abstract:
The intensive use of productive land for industrial expansion vis-a-vis increasing biotic pressure is a major problem in developing countries. Western Kachchh region in India is no exception to this, wherein, a 406 km stretch of coastal tract has undergone aggressive maritime developments (10 ports), industrial developments viz. thermal power stations (05 no), cement industries (05 no) and special economic zones (12 no). The region also has 03 major opencast mines (lignite, bauxite and limestone). The present work discusses the opportunities and options of sustainable mineral exploration and management of natural resource base of dry land ecosystem in Kachchh region.
From the 21 minerals found in Gujarat state, Kachchh district is endowed with lignite, bauxite, bentonite, limestone, kaolinite, gypsum, siderite, sandstone, trap, sand and brick-earth. The lignite reserve of the district is 300MT locked up in different locations spreading across around 1200 km2, which has led to pouring in of the investors and large mining companies to set up their units in the region. Major concentrations of these economically valuable minerals (lignite, bauxite, bentonite, and limestone) are seen in the Western part of Kachchh district, which is rich with a unique biodiversity of this exclusive dry land ecosystem (Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary - a protected area). The area has a large population of poor people, which are dependent on the natural resource base of the area. The major challenge is to balance the increasing demand for mineral resources (environmental degradation as impact of opencast mines, especially those of lignite and bauxite) and need of the local populace for natural resource. This conflicting interest of industrial development and natural resource base calls for a holistic management approach, in order to achieve a trade-off between developmental imperatives and natural resource management.