Land Degradation through Mining-Potential for Development of Mined Areas

Abstract

Mining a development necessity is also a serious environmental threat. Intcreasing needs of the society has been enlarging the area for mining for more number of mineral and metals and fossil fuel and increasing the volume of extraction. The environmental hazards to a biotic resources include loss of productive land, defacing of land scape, land degradation through overburdens and subsidence as well as hydrologic deterioration both physically and chemically. While this threatens serious biological degradation through total loss of natural biodiversity, extinction of large number of plant species. The data obtained at coal mine area of Eastern India, Goa, Aravaltes and Doon Valley have been useful to get an idea of the severity of degradation through mining. Problem identification relating to watershed or area degradation, that concerns professionals in the field of soil and water conservation, planning watershed management projects, must include this as an important source for ensuring sustainable development of the land and water and for securing health and livelihood of the people.