How can easing environmental clearances for underground coal mining projects affect local communities and ecosystems?
The Parliamentary panel has recommended making the clearance process simpler for underground coal mining. I want to understand the possible long-term impacts on people living nearby and the environment.
Easing environmental clearances for underground coal mining projects is often suggested to accelerate energy production and economic growth. However, such a move can have significant and lasting consequences for local communities and ecosystems if not managed carefully.
- Impact on Local Communities:
- Displacement and Livelihood Loss: Mining operations may require land acquisition, leading to displacement of people and loss of agricultural land, affecting livelihoods.
- Health Risks: Increased mining can raise the risk of air and water pollution, exposing communities to dust, toxic gases, and contaminated water sources, resulting in respiratory and waterborne diseases.
- Socio-economic Disruption: Sudden changes in land use and influx of workers can strain local infrastructure, disrupt traditional lifestyles, and increase social tensions.
- Impact on Ecosystems:
- Groundwater Depletion and Contamination: Underground mining often lowers the water table and can introduce heavy metals and chemicals into groundwater, affecting both ecosystems and human health.
- Land Subsidence: Removing coal from underground can cause the land above to sink or collapse, damaging forests, agricultural land, and infrastructure.
- Biodiversity Loss: Disturbance to underground habitats can affect soil organisms and plant roots, indirectly harming surface biodiversity and ecological balance.
- Surface Water Pollution: Mining runoff can carry pollutants into rivers and streams, impacting aquatic life and downstream water users.
- Regulatory and Monitoring Challenges:
- Weakened Oversight: Simplified clearance processes may reduce the effectiveness of environmental assessments and monitoring, increasing the risk of unmitigated damage.
- Lack of Community Participation: Faster clearances may sideline local voices and concerns, leading to conflicts and inadequate compensation or rehabilitation.
Answered
10 hours ago