Sindh SoED.pdf - IUCN - Pakistan

Sindh State ofEnvironment &Development190REPERCUSSIONS OFMINERAL EXPLOITATIONThe exploitation of mineral resources is anenvironmentally damaging activity causinglarge scale deforestation, and the destruction ofwildlife and other socio-economic resources. Itcosts the local people their homes, their grazinggrounds, burial grounds, and even theirlivelihoods (for details see Appendix 14.2:Environmental Impact of Mining). The privatecompanies given contracts by the governmentmining authorities seldom care for theindigenous people and for the destruction theybring to their lives.The mineral sector which ranks third in Pakistanafter industrial and agricultural sectors,respectively, earns more than Rs.101 million forPakistan annually. Unfortunately, the miningand exploration processes, particularly thoseused in coal mining, are obsolete, nomadic andslow. For underground excavations, axe andpick methods are used, and surface mineralsare collected by hand. It is imperative that thissector be modernised and mechanised foroptimum benefit.Old and abandoned mines of marble and coal inmany parts of the provinces have had anadverse effect on the environment when openpits and deep, long tunnels are left which posea threat both to the safety of humans, animals,and the environment. The pits are often verysteep and cannot be reclaimed by soil coverageor by plantation.The underground mining of coal in many partsof the province, does not lead to such drasticdisruptions of the surface as open pits, but soilsubsidence can take place. Excess pumping ofwater from the mine areas can lead to thecollapse of ground surface. This problemoccurs most often where rocks are naturallyweak or highly fractured and have not beenproperly supported. This happens often in theLakhra coal mines. Subsidence has alsoresulted in the destruction of homes, roads, andagricultural land.In strip mining, once the bulk of the coal hasbeen mined, the remnants of the exhausted,coal-bearing rock and soil, known as mine spoilwaste also poses a threat to the environment.This waste needs to be covered and the topsoilvegetated to minimise acid mine drainageproblems which is seldom done.Impact on Water ResourcesPollution from mining is microbial and gives riseto many water-borne diseases. In Sindh,contamination, usually by metals, toxic waste,and chemicals, may cause environmentalpollution over a wide area by changes in thedistribution and chemistry of surface orgroundwaters. For example, in the Lakhra coalmines, the acid mine drainage that is producedwhen the iron sulphide minerals (pyrite,marcasite or pyrrhotite) are exposed tooxidation by moist air to form sulphuric acid,plus various other compounds in ore depositsand dumps, is a major source of concern. AtLakhra Power Station, 45 cusecs of water isbrought from the nearby Indus. After utilisingthis water, about 480 tonnes/hr of wastewater isdrained back without being treated 1 .Coal mining activities near the main waterchannels, like the KB Feeder supplying waternear Sonda coalfield areas, can be particularlyhazardous, if proper remedial measures are nottaken to avoid spillage into the water system.Hazards of Coal Mining on AirCoal mining produces air pollutants whichinclude dust, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide,oxides of nitrogen, hydrogen sulphide and tracemetals which may be a serious health hazard.Dust is capable of causing a substantialnegative impact in the immediate areas ofrelease. Dust is released from every surfacemine, especially from coal mines and otherquarries. It arises from mines, waste piles,beneficiation and conversion plants,transportation facilities, stockpiles and industrialsites.1. Thardeep Rural Development Programme. 2002 Socio-economic and Environmental Aspects of Coal Mining in Tharparkar District. Mithi