Waste Dump Reclamation for Sustainable Development of Mining Industry - A Case Study of UCIL Mines

摘要

In recent time, India has witnessed strategic shift in the field of conservation and development in pursuance to the national goal and social commitments in industrial sectors. Resource requirements particularly land is the key issue for site-specific projects e.g. mining. With the fast growing population and high demand of land, it has results in economic, social and environmental consequences. It necessitates the continuous planning and implementation of policy to achieve the national objective under various statutory frameworks. Reclamation of waste land encompasses the continuous process to restore the ecological balance towards sustainable development This paper deals with progressive waste land reclamation of waste dumps of Uranium Corporation of India Limited at Narwapahar Mine & Banduhurang Open Cast Mines. Collective area of waste dump site is about 90 ha with maximum height 35.0 m. Due to this waste dump environmental concern is not expected. The fact is substantiated by the baseline data of water and soil quality around the dump. However considering long term environmental planning, progressive reclamation of waste dumps has been undertaken by UCIL in phase manner. Reclamation will provide its physical & chemical stability and improvement of landuse & aesthetics of the area enabling protection of soil erosion and water body. Reclamation work of small dump has been undertaken at Narwapahar Mine as a pilot plant project. The completion of 2nd stage of reclamation at Narwapahar Mines has remarkably improved the aesthetics of the area. The outcomes of the pilot plant project will be implemented at larger dump site at Banduhurang Open Cast Mine of UCIL.