RIGHT TO LIVE AND THE MINING ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The environment which surrounds us and which consists of plants and animals, nonliving objects as water, air, light, soil, temperature etc is being damaged and disturbed, it is in peril. Our genetic composition, our whole existence, as also the existence and survival of many animals and plants is threatened. It is really depressing to note that the water we drink, the air we breathe is all polluted. We are now facing the serious ecological crisis like acid rain, global warming, water and air pollution, the extinction of numerous animal and plant species, the loss of bio-diversity and ozone depletion. The depletion of the Ozone Layer causes skin cancer, cataracts, damage to body's immunity system, mutation, loss of crop productivity and upsetting the balance of ecosystems. The need of the day is therefore to bring greater awareness for harmonizing population dynamics and socio-economic development and harnessing of natural resources with due care to see that the quality of the environment does not deteriorate. 

Mining has been and continues to be a major contributor to the economic growth of most of the developed and developing countries. India possesses vast and diverse natural resources, of which the exploration, extraction and utilization of minerals are currently considered to be one of the most significant factors in the economic growth and development of the country, India ranks among top five global players in terms of production of several important minerals. 

However, unregulated mining activities also have adverse effects on the environment, which may poses threat to human health and well being. A high environmental cost which has been associated with years of unregulated mining and mineral-processing activity made it realised to strike a balance between mineral developments on the one hand and the greening of the environment on the other.