MINING IN INDIA

WHAT IS MINING?

Mining in simple terms is defined as the process of extracting the minerals or the geological things from the earth, from within its surface or underground.

HISTORY OF MINING IN INDIA:

The early man in the Indus Valley Civilization started using stones for basic needs. They used ornaments of gold and silver as per the archaeological surveys. According to them, many quarry pits were found in Harrappa leaving the evidences of mining during that Civilization. Thus we can say that the mining was an art of Indians in utilizing the available natural resources from a very early age of Indus Valley Civilization.

INDIA AND MINING:

India's mining is the 4th largest in volume and 8th largest in value in 2009. Though, now it is declining for many reasons. The mining sector contributes 2.2 to 2.3 percent to the Gross Domestic Product. The contribution of it in the industrial sector exclusively gives to around 10-11% in GDP. This sector provides employment to almost 7,00,000 people in the country. India extracts metallic and non-metallic, fuel, atomic and other minor minerals.The major minerals are Iron ore, thorium, mica and bauxite. In India, there are five major mineral belts. They are North eastern, southern, south western, north western and the central belts.

THE MAJOR ADVANTAGES FOR INDIA FOR MINING:

• Abundant mineral resources.
• Ample exploration opportunities.
• Raising standards of investments.
• Growing demand from the other sectors for mining.
• The Government concessions pulling in the private parties into mining.

THE CHALLENGES OR ISSUES OR PROBLEMS OF MINING IN INDIA:

• Lack of supporting infrastructure for mining.
• Lack of utilisation of available exploration opportunities.
• Lack of power and the unaffordable prices, ports and port capacity, roads, railways, fuel etc.
• The imposition of high export duty thus leading to the declination in competing in the exports with other countries.
• Lot of abnormal delays to get clearances. Almost 18 different departments play their roles in the clearance activity.
• Environmental issues like erosion, sink holes, loss of biodiversity, contamination of soil,ground water and surface water by the chemicals coming out after the mining process, deterioration of health among the locals, coal fires etc leading to the massive environmental damage.
• Lack of transparency in the process leading to many scandals.
• Floods and other methane gas explosions, carbon mono oxide poisoning, dangers to the animal habitats etc are caused by mining activities.
• Slow adoption of economically and environmentally sustainable technology.

SUGGESTIONS:

• The government should assess the impact of mining on the environment, manage the plans properly, monitor environment and begin recycling the waste from mining.
• The waste in the developing countries called tailings are being submerged in the seas, though this practise is banned in the developed countries.
• The unresolved policy issues are to be sorted out by the government.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES:

MINISTRY OF MINES:

A ministry was introduced which was responsible for the survey and exploration of all minerals other than natural gas and petroleum. Many acts were introduced and many amendments were made out of them in the many years until now for the development of mining which moves the development of industry.
Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act was introduced in 1957 distinguishing a specific importance to the mineral sector from the Industrial policy of 1957. Many government concessions were provided based on the norms of this act.

After 1991, National mineral policy was introduced in 1993 to allow liberalisation, encourage private investment and explore the sophisticated technology.
Though Liberalisation was introduced, no proper development was seen in the mining sector. Thus many committees were appointed in order to look into the flaws and came up with a new National mineral policy in 2008.
This policy said that the role of central government should be changed to provide the required incentives to the private sector investment in exploration and mining. it said that there would be transparency maintained in the grants of concessions. There would be promotion of scientific mining for sustainable development to protect the interests of the locals.
It says that mining is financially viable, socially responsible, environmentally, technically and scientifically sound sector. The minerals are to be used optimally and plan in a long term view for development.

MY PERSPECTIVE:

Mining is the most happening sector in today's world. The trade goes on with the value of the country's capacity in mining. All the countries who have become the hub for mining in the past, have now become the most powerful countries in the world. It is a known fact that British invaded India for natural resources. Such is our country. But the poor political game is eating away the meritorious aspect of our country, that is mining. The acts and initiatives made must be self less and nation oriented. There is still a lot of scope for our country to develop its methodology in mining. It should come up with creative ideas which just enchants the entire rotten mining industry right from the roots.

The transparency and the technology can be the two major aspects that would bring us a change, the transparency in the political moves in mining and the advanced technology that would reduce the environmental devastation and aids in quick growth of mining sector. Our Indian government should realize the competition abroad and grease up the procedural delays that made a stop in our mining industry. Frankly speaking, the best technology with the added government's adequacy in planning fuels the growth of mining sector. The ministry of mines and the New National mineral bill has got good norms in easing the hurdles in mining. If put to practise in all positive ways possible, Ours is the victory, ours is the power, ours is the world.

REFERENCES:

- WIKIPEDIA

- FICCI

- YOUTUBE

- PIB