Safety problems of small mines - with special reference to small mines in Rajasthan

摘要

Rajasthan, the land of sand dunes, hills, lakes, forts and palaces stand testimony to its 5000 years of history. The last century also witnessed the 22 erstwhile princely States bowing before the democratic system and getting integrated into the Indian Union. This is the second largest State in the country, with a geographical extent of 869 km (E-W) and 826 km (N-S) covering an area of 3,42,239 sq. km., of which is desert. Some of its districts are even larger than many small States of the northern and southern India. The Aravalli ranges, one of the oldest mountain ranges of the world, provide a wide variety of minerals to the State which makes it one of the richest States in mineral wealth. About 5 types of various minerals are found here. Rajasthan is also ranked first in terms of non-metallic mineral production and fourth in production of metallic minerals. The State produced about Rs. 1400 crores worth of raw minerals in 1997, earning about Rs.270 crores as royalty/dead rent.