By Kirthi Iyer

Mining is an essential industry to the growth of India’s economy because it adds much to GDP and supplies the nation with critical raw material to various key industries. However, the mining sector in India has considerable impacts on the environment through deforestation, water pollution, and destroying plant and animal life. The big challenge lies in finding a way to promote economic growth through mined commodities without permanently damaging the environment. The concept of sustainable mining is important in these regards, as it serves to strike a balance between generating economic returns and preserving natural ecosystems.

Understanding Sustainable Mining

Sustainable mining is the activity of mineral extraction with minimal depletion of the environment such allowing future generations to meet their needs. It uses techniques that reduce damages to the land, water, and air. It also includes social and economic considerations.

In India, recognition of sustainable mining has been on the increase. The country is richly endowed with minerals such as coal, iron ore, bauxite, and limestone, which are fast drivers for growth of India’s economy. Extraction of the same without sustainable practices can bring in irreparable environmental degradation.

Understanding the Impact of Mining in India

India is one of the largest producers of minerals in the world, and the mining sector in India plays a vital role in the country’s economy. It provides employment to millions of people, generates revenue for the government, and supplies raw materials to various industries. However, the environmental impact of mining cannot be overlooked.

  1. Environmental Impact: It is well understood that traditional mining causes severe environmental damage. For example, open-pit mining usually leads to deforestation, soil erosion, and loss of biodiversity. Besides, mining activities sometimes contribute to water pollution since large amounts of harmful chemicals and heavy metals are released to rivers and streams. 
  2. Social Impact: Mining can also have social implications, especially for communities living near mining sites. These communities often face displacement, loss of livelihoods, and health issues due to pollution and environmental degradation. Sustainable mining practices aim to address these concerns by involving local communities in decision-making processes and ensuring that they benefit from mining activities.
  3. Economic Impact: While mining is a means towards economic development, such development should be long-lasting. Under most circumstances, over-exploitation of mineral resources leads to their eventual exhaustion, and such a scenario would be disastrous for the economy. Sustainable mining, therefore, involves the effective use of resources in a responsible manner so as to conserve them for later use.

Key Principles of Sustainable Mining

To achieve sustainable mining, it is essential to follow certain principles and follow sustainable development goals that balance economic, environmental, and social concerns. These principles include:

  1. Sustainable mining involves the efficient use of mineral resources to minimise waste and reduce environmental impact. This includes adopting technologies that allow for the maximum extraction of minerals while minimising the amount of waste generated.
  2. Protecting the environment is a core principle of sustainable mining. This involves minimising the impact of mining activities on ecosystems, including land, water, and air. Measures such as reforestation, land reclamation, and water treatment are essential to restoring the environment after mining activities.
  3. Sustainable mining practices must consider the well-being of local communities. This includes ensuring that mining activities do not displace communities, providing them with adequate compensation, and involving them in decision-making processes. Additionally, mining companies should invest in community development projects, such as education and healthcare, to improve the quality of life for those affected by mining.
  4.  Sustainable mining should contribute to long-term economic growth by ensuring the efficient use of resources and minimizing environmental impact. This includes adopting technologies that reduce operational costs and increase the lifespan of mining operations.

Case Studies of Sustainable Mining in India

Several mining companies in India have adopted sustainable practices to balance growth of India’s economy with environmental protection. These case studies highlight the importance of sustainable mining and the positive impact it can have on the environment and local communities.

Tata Steel’s Sustainable Mining Practices

Tata Steel is committed to sustainable mining practices that prioritize safety and environmental care for the well-being of the community. They focus on the responsible management of natural resources such as water, air, and land, while also advocating for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Additionally, they ensure that biodiversity management and sustainability are integral to their mining operations, and they are actively creating infrastructure to support agriculture and foster livelihoods in remote areas. 

Tata Steel has also implemented Biodiversity Management Plans (BMPs) and established Knowledge Centres to enhance employee skills. Their approach to mining includes integrating mine closure planning from the beginning, ensuring that environmental and social impacts are managed responsibly.  It engages actively with communities on their concerns and helps them in their development through vocational training, education, and economic diversification.

Furthermore, Tata Steel adheres to strict safety standards for managing its tailing storage facilities at its mines, ensuring compliance with international environmental safety standards. Tailing ponds are rigorously managed under these safe practices. In the long term, any negative impacts on the environment and local communities are mitigated through carefully planned and executed mine-closure activities. 

Hindustan Zinc’s Zero Waste Mining Initiative

Hindustan Zinc Limited, India’s only and the world’s second-largest zinc producer, has been awarded the prestigious 5-Star Rating by the Indian Bureau of Mines in recognition of the exemplary commitment to sustainable development in the Operating of Mines during FY 2022-2023. Out of more than 1200 mines evaluated, only 68 received this recognition, including Hindustan Zinc’s Rampura Agucha and Sindesar Khurd Mines, the only fully mechanized underground mines to achieve this rating.

From the Zero Liquid Discharge Plant to the use of battery electric vehicles, Hindustan Zinc has implemented numerous innovative measures that underscore its sincere commitment to sustainability. The company has substantially reduced its carbon footprint by increasing the use of renewable energy and enhancing operational efficiency. It has successfully decreased greenhouse gas emissions by 4% over four years and has further advanced its efforts by deploying electric vehicles to significantly reduce emissions. Community development is an integral part of Hindustan Zinc’s corporate vision, with the company impacting over 2 million people through various educational, livelihood, and health initiatives. 

The 5-Star Rating of the Indian Bureau of Mines showcases Hindustan Zinc at the forefront of sustainable mining and community welfare. Their proactive stance toward caring for the environment and social welfare creates new benchmarks in the mining industry and reinstates their position as one of the most sustainable companies globally.

Government Initiatives for Sustainable Mining

The Indian government has recognized the importance of sustainable mining and has implemented several policies and initiatives for growth of India’s economy and to promote environmentally responsible mining practices.

National Mineral Policy 2019

The National Mineral Policy (NMP), 2019, is a set of guidelines that created a framework to ensure that the mining activities of India are environmentally friendly and socially responsible. Key provisions of the NMP 2019 include:

  1. Environmental Safeguards: The policy mandates that mining companies adopt measures to mitigate the environmental impact of their operations, such as reforestation, land reclamation, and water conservation.
  2. Community Engagement: The policy also encourages the mining companies to engage closely with the locals regarding the mining projects so that the community benefits from the mining activities through infrastructure improvement and job creation.
  3. Resource Efficiency: This policy encourages responsible exploration and use of minerals. It, hence, ensures efficient exploitation of the country’s mineral resources with reduced wastage. Besides, it encourages methods that incorporate up-to-date technology to make mining less detrimental to the environment.

In simple terms, the NMP 2019 is about ensuring that mining in India is done in a way that protects the environment, involves local communities, and uses resources wisely. 

Sustainable Development Framework (SDF)

The Sustainable Development Framework (SDF) is a structured plan by the Indian government to ensure that mining is conducted responsibly, with respect to the environment and local communities. It provides guidelines for mining companies to follow, ensuring that their activities have minimal negative impacts. Here’s what it includes: 

  1. Environmental Management: The SDF requires mining companies to properly study how their activities may affect the environment. This shall be followed by measures aimed at mitigating their effects on nature, such as the protection of ecosystems and wildlife.
  2. Social Responsibility: It has strong emphasis on community engagement and requires mining companies to invest in social development projects, such as education and health, that will improve the quality of life for local communities.
  3. Transparency and Accountability: The SDF promotes transparency and accountability of mining companies in terms of their environmental and social performance by mandating information disclosure.

Challenges and Future Prospects

While significant progress has been made in promoting sustainable mining practices in India, several challenges remain unchanged. These challenges include:

  1. Many mining companies, mostly small ones, do not understand the reasons behind sustainable mining. Because of this lack of knowledge, they usually follow conventional methods that harm the environment.
  2. Compliance with environmental regulations is one of the challenging tasks in the mining industries. Guidelines have been developed by the Indian government to make mining more sustainable, but often the implementation is pretty poor and degrading to the environment.
  3. New technologies for sustainable mining are expensive and often complex. Several mining companies are hence cautious in their investment in new technologies, having the fear of costs and risks associated with these investments.

Despite these challenges, the future of sustainable mining in India looks promising. With increasing awareness of environmental issues and the growing demand for responsibly sourced minerals, more mining companies are likely to adopt sustainable practices. Additionally, government initiatives and policies aimed at promoting sustainable mining are expected to drive further progress in this area.

Conclusion

The need for sustainable mining is thus imperative for India to manage the balance between economic growth and environmental protection. Sustainable practices will help companies reduce their environmental impact, which includes land, water, and wildlife preservation. It is a way to ensure that mineral resources will be available in the long run for the future existence of the mining industry in India.