Andhra University research suggests adopting eco approach to bauxite mining

<p>A recent study done by Geo-scientists and researchers of Andhra University, titled 'Bauxite mining in Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, Possible Environmental Implications and Measures for Environmentally Friendly Mining,' has highlighted the environmental implications of open cast bauxite mining in the Agency area and offered suggestions for eco-friendly mining.</p> <p>Andhra Pradesh has the second highest reserves of bauxite in the country. &nbsp;About 750-1000 million tonnes of metal grade bauxite reserves exist in the forest and tribal tracts of Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and Vizianagaram districts in the Eastern Ghats ranges. Andhra Pradesh contributes about 20% of India&rsquo;s bauxite reserves.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/eastern-ghats.jpg" alt="News" width="517" height="226" /></p> <p>The recent decision of the state government to open up bauxite mining in the Eastern Ghats terrain has triggered a controversy among the local communities and environmentalists on the ground that mining will have an adverse impact on the environment by damaging water bodies, soil, and rare flora and fauna. &nbsp;The mining activity is also feared to be adversely affecting the culture and lifestyle of the native tribes.</p> <p>Recently, the Hyderabad High Court had directed Andhra Pradesh government to explain its stand on bauxite mining in the agency areas. The petition accused the state for not following the norms under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.</p> <p>"In this context, the study attempts to present the possible impacts of active mining initiatives of bauxite in the region. It further examined people's apprehensions related to impact on the environment and tribal socio-economic and cultural implications. Possible remedial measures include environment-friendly mining of the resources with minimum impact on the environment including the sensitive forest cover, land, water and tribal culture," stated Mustafa Mohammad, one of the researchers.</p> <p>"Government bodies like AP Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) should keep a strict check on private companies who intend to set up aluminium plants. A significant percentage of profits should be charged from the companies as environmental cess and should be kept available to an authorised autonomous committee to take up environmental restoration on a continuous basis,&rdquo; suggested Prof Jagannadha Rao, the head of the research team.</p> <p>In open cast bauxite mining, the top soil needs to be removed to access the actual ore. &nbsp;The resultant soil erosion and waste dumping result in difficulty for the rehabilitation of the vegetation if the removed soil is not replaced soon after finishing the mining operations.</p> <p>{googleAdsense}</p> <p>"Land-reclamation is needed by putting the soil back in place and with plantation cover on the re-claimed land to maintain the biodiversity and ecosystem. The loss of top soil cover should be minimised by scrapping the upper layer in a manner that it can be laid elsewhere as a uniform layer. Replacement of the top soil on the earlier dumped over burden is also required," added Prof Rao.</p> <p>The study also suggested use of technological advancement to recycle bauxite residue (red mud mixed with caustic soda) successfully and safely for using in cement industries.</p> <p><span style="border-radius: 2px; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; font: bold 11px/20px 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,sans-serif; color: #ffffff; background: #bd081c url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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') no-repeat scroll 3px 50% / 14px 14px; position: absolute; opacity: 1; z-index: 8675309; display: none; cursor: pointer; top: 212px; left: 18px;">Save</span></p>